SOIL SURVEYS for LAND DEVELOPMENT FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS ROME, ITALY - MARCH, 1953 FAO AGRICULTURAL STUDIES 1. Breeding Livestock Adapted to Unfavorable Environments Well illustrated. In English and Spanish. $1.50 7/6. 2. Preservation of Grains in Storage: Papers presented at the International Meeting on Infestation of Foodstuffs, London, 5-12 August 1947. The problems of grain storage discussed by contributors from Canada, USA, Britain, France, Egypt and Australia. In English, French and Spanish. $1.50 7/6. 3. Uning Salty Land 49 pages, tables charts and references. In English. $0.50 2/6. 4. Soil Conservation: An international study 96 illustrations, map, charts, references. In English, French and Spanish. $2.00 10/-. 5. Nutritional Deficiencies in Livestock Symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in dairy and beef cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, horses and mules. Well illustrated. In English. $1.00 5/-. 6. Storing and Drying Grain in Canada, in the United States, in the Unit- ed Kingdom An illustrated discussion of the usual methods. In English, French and Spanish. §0.50 2/6. 7. Better Utilization of Milk A study of current uses of milk and its by-products, and of the possibilities of using them more fully. Written for the technician or government experts. In English, French and Spanish. $0.73 3/9. 8. Rinderpest Vaccines, Their Production and Use in the Field In English and French. $1.00 5/-. 9. Efficient Use of Fertilizers A guide book on fertilizers and their use in crop production. Tn English, French and Spanish. $2.00 10/- {English edition publish- ed by Leonard Hill Ltd., Stratford House, 9 Eden Street, London, N. W. 1.) 10. Some Important Animal Diseases in Europe: Papers presented at the Animal Disease Meeting. Warsaw, 1948. Papers written by contributors from England, Czechoslovakia. Poland, and the World Health Organization. In English with French summaries. $2.00 10/-. 11. Consolidation of Fragmented Agricultural Holdings Individual studies on the problem of fragmented agricultural holdings in Denmark, France, Ireland and Switzerland. In En- glish, French and Spanish. $1.00 5/-. 12. Some Aspects of Food Refrigeration and Freezing A well-illustrated compilation of papers written by experts of many nationalities. In English. §2.00 10/-. 13. Weed Control by Growth-Regulating Substances A short practical guide to the use of hormone weed killers. In English, French and Spanish. $0.50 2/6. 14. Joint WHO/FAO Expert Panel on Brucellosis In English and French. $0.25 1/3. 15. Joint WHOjFAO Expert Group on Zoonoses In English and French. $0.30 1/6. 16. Improving the World's Grasslands An international study giving latest information on grassland improvement. Available in English only from Leonard Hill Limited, Stratford House, 9 Eden Street, London, N. YV. 1, 10/6. 17. Communal Land Tenure An FAO land tenure study. In English, $0.50 2/6. 18. Cadastral Survey and Records of Rights in Land An FAO land tenure study. In English. $1.00 5/-. 19. Zebu Cattle of India and Pakistan 264 pages, illustrations and tables. In English. $3.00 15/-. f The basic operationp in soil classificationfi and mappingppg is the examination off a llarge number of soill profilesfil or sectionsi whichhih consisti of layers or horizons of soil materials of various colors and of different phy- sical and chemical constitution. In land utilization, as in soil classification, the composition of the lower horizons is frequently as significant as the nature Z of the surface soil. Under certain circumstances, such as those prevailing z in irrigation areas or where deep rooting crops are grown, the physical and 5 chemical nature of these lower horizons may be of great importance to the Z farmer. z Ektachrome by K.P. Phillips 5 iiiimiiiiiimiiHi*: FAO Agricultural Studies No. 20 SOIL SURVEYS FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT Edited by C. G. STEPHENS Consultant (Soils) Land and Water Use Branch, Agriculture Division. Scanned from original by ISRIC - World Soil Information, as ICSU World Data Centre for Soils. The purpose is to make a safe depository for endangered documents and to make the accrued information available for consultation, following Fair Use Guidelines. Every effort is taken to respect Copyright of the materials within the archives where the identification of the Copyright holder is clear and, where feasible, to contact the originators. For questions please contact soil.isric(S)wur.nl indicating the item reference number concerned. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, Italy March, 1953 \2>0 Printed in Italy FOREWORD Compilation of accurate soil survey information, climatic data and water resources is one of the most valuable methods of ensuring that agricultural planning and development proceed on a sound national basis. The most important problem in the world today is to ensure that the people of the world will be fed. To deal with the inevitable increase in food consumption due to rising populations we must use our soil and water resources to the greatest possible advantage: for this we must have precise knowledge about the geographical extent and location of different soils, and determine how they may best be used and, at the same time, preserved for posterity. The purpose of this monograph is to bring to the notice of govern- ments responsible for the welfare of their individual countries the advantages of using modern methods of soil classification and map- ping. It is primarily addressed to members of legislative bodies and to administrators and officials in charge of scientific and technical depart- ments such as agriculture, forestry, soil and water conservation, irriga- tion, drainage, land settlement, taxation and civil engineering. In many countries, soil surveys are now widely used to promote increased agricultural and sylvicultural efficiency, to assist in the devel- opment of new lands for the production of food and other primary products, and in certain engineering fields. This monograph specifi- cally deals in detail with the purposes and uses of soil surveys. It is hoped that the facts and illustrations presented will convince adminis- trators in all countries that such surveys, with their basic information on soil character and distribution, are absolutely essential in numerous aspects of extension or advisory work, in the proper application of many of the results of plant and animal research, and in a number of other activities concerned with the development, tenure and efficient utilization of the land. No attempt is made here to provide a manual of soil survey proce- dure but sufficient of the techniques of soil classification and mapping are outlined so that the mode of operation, the type of equipment involved and the cost of the work can be accurately assessed. Precise details concerning techniques can be obtained by reference to the publi- cations listed in the bibliography at the end of the publication especially the recently revised and enlarged Soil Survey Manual (23) 1 of the United States Department of Agriculture. 1 The figures in brackets refer to publications quoted under Literature Cited at the end of the book. CONTRIBUTORS ALICANTE, M. M., Director of Soil Conservation, Department of Agricul- ture and Natural Resources, Manila, Republic of the Philippines. AUBEBT, G., Directeur de Laboratoire à l'Office des Recherches Scienti- fiques Coloniales, Paris, France. BAREN, F. A. van, Head of Soils Department, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands. BRAMAO, D. L., Head, Department of Soils, Estacao Agronomica, Sacavem, Portugal. BURINGH, P., Soil Scientist to Soil Survey Institute, Wageningen, Holland. EDELMAN, C. H. Director, Soil Survey Institute, Wageningen, Holland. FOCAN, A., National Institute for Agricultural Studies of the Belgian Congo, Yangambi, Belgian Congo. GLANVILLE, W. H., Director, Road Research Laboratory, Harmondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex, England. HOCKENSMITH, R. H., Chief, Soil Conservation Survey, Division, Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C., U.S.A. KELLOGG, CHARLES E., Chief, Soil Survey, Soil Conservation Service U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. LEAHEY, A., Principal Pedologist, Central Experimental Farm, Depart- ment of Agriculture, Ottawa, Canada. MEBWE, VAN DER, C. R., Chief, Division of Chemical »Services, Depart- ment of Agriculture, Pretoria, Union of South Africa. MOHR, E. C. J., Professor of Soil Science, University of Utrecht, Nether- lands. MUIR, A., Head, Soil Survey of England and Wales, Rothamsted Experi- mental Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England. POHLEN, I. J., Soil Bureau, Department of Scientific and Industrial Re- search, Wellington, New Zealand. RAYOHATJDHURI, S. P., Head, Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. STEPHENS, C. G., Senior Principal Research Officer, Division of Soils, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia. STRAUS, M. W., Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, Washington, D.C., U.S.A. TAVERNIER, R. J. F., l'Université de Gand, Directeur de la Cartographie des Sols de Belgique, Rosier 6, Gand, Belgium. WALSH, T., Soils Advisory Officer, Department of Agriculture, Merrion Street, Dublin, Ireland. • ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In addition to the basic material supplied by the various contribu- tors, the compilation of this publication has been greatly assisted by a number of people who have either criticised preliminary drafts, helped by discussing various topics relevant to certain sections or supplied illustrations. Appreciation for such help is expressed to: W. H. ALLWAY, Soil Survey, Soil Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. U.S.A. C. A. BOWER, United States Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, Cali- fornia, U.S.A. E. CROMPTON, Soil Survey of England and Wales, Bolton, Lanca- shire, England. J. LOSSING BUCK, Chief, Land and Water Use Branch, FAO, Rome, Italy. G. DROUINEAU, Director, Agronomy Research Station, Antibes, France. F. M. EATON, Texas A and M College, College Station, Texas, U.S.A.