Web Soil Survey

Web Soil Survey  (WSS) is an online application created by the USDA NRCS where you can look up more information about soil types in your area -- it's like Google Maps for soil! Here are the steps you can take to learn what soil type you might have, and more.

1. Launch the application. Navigate to the Web Soil Survey homepage, and click the green button labeled "Start WSS" to launch the application in your web browser. Once it's loaded, you'll first see the Area of Interest (AOI) tab.
2. Enter the address you're interested in. On the lefthand side, under "Quick Navigation," click on "Address." Then type in the street address, city, and state you'd like to look up and click "View." This address could be your home, a property you're interested in purchasing, a natural area you'd like to learn more about, or anywhere! Below is a screenshot where I've entered the SoilKit office address as an example.
3. Use the AOI tool to select your Area Of Interest. On the tool menu above the interactive map, click the AOI button with a red rectangle outline. Click and drag to select the area you'd like to learn about. Keep in mind that WSS data doesn't pinpoint data exactly, so it might be helpful to look at a larger area surrounding the specific address you're interested in. Advanced tip: click "Export AOI" button in the lefthand menu to download and save the exact AOI you've selected so you can reload and explore more later.

4. Use the Soil Map tab to find out what soil types are found nearby. Continuing with the SoilKit office example, the Soil Map tells me that the property most likely a soil series (type) called Rains, which is a fine sandy loam, with Lynchburg and Norfolk soils also being found close by.

   

5. Use the Soil Data Explorer tab to learn more about your soil! This page has its own tab menu as well. Under "Suitabilities and Limitations for Use," I learned that the topsoil around the SoilKit office is rated poor to fair due to being acidic and wet with a moderate CEC.

Under "Soil Properties and Qualities," I clicked through "Water Features" in the lefthnd menus and learned that the area is not prone to ponding or flooding. I also clicked through "Soil Health Properties" and learned that organic matter in the area ragnes around 1-2% and the pH is around 4.5-5.0. But I've only scratched the surface! You can use the first and last tabs, "Intro to Soil" and "Soil Reports," for more detailed information about the data presented in the maps.

Be sure to download your data (or at least export your AOI) if you would like to look at it later without giong through the whole process of entering the address and selecting your AOI again. 

Soil data is available for 95% of counties across the USA, most likely including your backyard. Give the Web Soil Survey a spin, and let us know in the comments below if you learned anything interesting about your soil!