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Building an American Soil Survey

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Soil Science Americana

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Abstract

Early soil maps in the USA were made by the state geological surveys. One of the first soil maps was made in Wisconsin in 1882, followed by soil maps of Mississippi, Maryland, and Tennessee. In 1891, a soils division was established within the Department of Agriculture. In 1899, it began a program that aimed for a nationwide soil survey similar to the geological survey. In this new survey program, the soils would be mapped, studied, and described in reports that were to be publicly distributed. An important purpose of the soil survey was to help settlers. The focus was agrarian as in the 1890s over 40% of the population were farmers. Soil observations were made in the field, and soils were then clustered into soil types, series, and provinces. Some theory was developed as to why certain soils were found in certain locations. The first field manual was published in 1903, and Milton Whitney was the first chief. He held a geological view on the survey, was successful in obtaining funds, but also had arguments with the leading soil researchers at the time including Eugene Hilgard, Franklin King, and Cyril Hopkins. He was succeeded by Curtis Marbut. In order to exchange experiences and to form a community, the American Association of Soil Survey Workers was established in 1920 that became the foundation for the Soil Science Society of America in 1936.

“Since soils are the residual product of the action of meteorological agencies upon rocks, it is obvious that there must exist a more or less intimate relation between the soils of a region and the climatic conditions that prevail, or have prevailed therein.”

Eugene Hilgard, 1892

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  1. Department of Soil Science, FD Hole Soils Lab, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Alfred E. Hartemink

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Hartemink, A.E. (2021). Building an American Soil Survey. In: Soil Science Americana. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71135-1_7

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