DOCUMENTATION

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DOCUMENTATION

• MO6 SOILS WORKSHOP
• MARCH 2009

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Documentation

• Guidance for documentation can be found in the
  NSSH, part 627.08
• Soil survey documentation is scientific data from
  measurements and observations of basic soil
  properties and qualities and of spatial
  arrangements, that are collected in the field or
  remotely sensed using standardized procedures.
  This data is systematically recorded.
• The information is presented as geographical
  descriptions of landscapes and boundaries, soil
  profiles, soil layers, chemical and physical
  properties, or temporal condition.
• Documentation assures proper soil classification,
  uniform and consistent mapping, and supports
  inferences for application of the information to
  similar landscapes.

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Why Collect Documentation?

• To be able to develop science based
  soil-landscape models so we can delineate
  polygons of like soils
• To be able to build and store property data in a
  permanent database accessible to users.
• To quantify soil spatial variability in order to
  make logical breaks in soil landscapes.
• To better communicate with soil scientists and
  related professions (nomenclature, taxonomy, etc)
  
• To correlate ecological sites with soils
• To be able to classify and correlate soils
  consistently
• To be able to develop and test interpretations
• To be able to test and report the reliability of
  soil survey information

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Why Collect Documentation?

• To be able to communicate and support your
  concepts/work to those who come after you.
  Steve Park

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Kinds of Documentation

• Map Unit Composition
• Transect Sample points collected at equidistance
  along a line.
• Usually 10 points in a transect.
• Can be stretched out over the whole polygon, or
  focused on a particular position on the landform.
• More suited to open easily traversed landforms.
• Traverse Sample points collected at selected
  representative locations on the landform.
• Usually non-linear, often zig-zag shape.
• Suited for use on rough broken landforms not
  easily traversed.
• Can be stretched out over the whole polygon, or
  focused on a particular position on the landform.

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Kinds of Documentation

• Map Unit Composition
• Field Notes General notes about observations,
  thoughts, analysis for the map unit.
• Geospatial Analysis
• Some components are easily distinguishable from
  others in the map unit.
• GIS tools can break out components by slope
  shape, aspect, moisture index, etc.

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Kinds of Documentation

• Map Unit Soil Component Characterization
• Pedon Descriptions
• Full
• Partial Depth, Horizons, Texture, Color,
• Usually documented on a 232 form but can also be
  documented on transect/traverse stops.
• Field Notes - General notes about observations,
  thoughts, analysis for the soil component.

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How Much Documentation?

• From NSSH, 627.08 5 e)
• The memorandum of understanding for the survey
  area provides guidance for the type and amount of
  documentation.
• Documentation needs and standards may vary by map
  unit within the same survey area.
• Flexibility of guidance allows for sufficient
  data collection for each map, yet avoids the
  excess time and expense of redundant or
  superfluous data.

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Sharing Documentation

• Documentation can be shared between soil survey
  areas.
• This is National Policy as well as MO6 policy.
• Progressive correlation facilitates the
  distribution and sharing of documentation on an
  MLRA basis.

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How Much Documentation?

• Map Units
• NSSH, 627.08
• 30 points when lt 2,000 acres
• 10 additional points for each additional 4,000
  acres
• Typically 60 points is considered sufficient
• MO6 Guidance
• Each map unit should have at least 3 transects
  and/or traverses.

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How Much Documentation?

• Proposed Series
• NSSH 627.08
• 5 complete pedon descriptions for lt 2,000 acres
• 10 complete pedon descriptions for gt 20,000 acres
• MO6 Guidance
• At least 3 complete pedon descriptions
  supplemented by up to 7 partial descriptions
  and/or notes.

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How Much Documentation?

• Map Unit Soil Component
• NSSH 627.08
• Each major soil component requires 1 complete
  unique representative pedon description.
• MO6 Guidance
• Same as NSSH. Each major soil component requires
  1 complete unique representative pedon
  description. Along with the description there
  should also be a box sample.

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How Much Documentation?

• To Correlate a Taxon on the Legend
• NSSH 627.08
• 3 pedon descriptions for the taxon
• MO6 Guidance
• Same as NSSH, 3 pedon descriptions for the taxon

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Summary of MO6 General Guidance on Documentation

• The NSSH is the National Standard and should be
  followed as much as possible.
• The MOU specifies the quantity and kind of
  documentation.
• The quantity, quality, and kind of documentation
  required will depend a lot on the extent,
  complexity, and history of the map unit. IT
  DEPENDS!!!
• There is no one pat answer for every map unit or
  taxon. Common sense, judgment, and flexibility
  must be used.
• In general, the quantity and quality of
  documentation should be adequate to support the
  map unit concept.
• Prefer fewer high quality documentation rather
  than numerous partial, inconsistent, or
  incomplete documentation.

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Tips For Collecting Documentation

• Premap using GIS tools or a stereoscope before
  collecting data in the field. Firm up lines and
  understand where one polygon ends and another
  begins.
• Limit a transect/traverse to one polygon. Dont
  run a transect/traverse across multiple polygons.
  If you cross into another polygon start a new
  transect/traverse.
• Ensure transects/traverse provide a
  representative cross section of the polygon.
  Dont locate the transect/traverse parallel and
  near the edge of the polygon. Avoid transition
  zones or heavily disturbed areas.
• Very large polygons may need more that one
  transect/traverse.
• For each point/stop you may collect a full
  description, a partial description, or a note.
• When hand digging a hole make sure the hole is
  dug out with a sharpshooter or shovel wide enough
  so you can auger to a deeper depth. Pedons need
  to be described to the series control section
  depth.

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Tips For Collecting Documentation

• Carry zip lock sandwich bags with you in your
  pack so that you can collect soil samples. Label
  the bags and put them in a box tray when you get
  back to the office. This allows you to avoid
  having to carry bulky boxes.
• Cupcakes baking pans or ice cube trays are great
  for placing the different horizons in, making it
  a little easier to do texture, color,
  effervescence, etc.
• Always carry a hand lens and make use of it when
  describing clay films, carbonates, and other
  small features.
• As much data as possible for a 232 or full
  description should be completed in the field and
  not in the office. Some things like color,
  pores, pH, EC, CCE can be determined from the box
  sample in the office. All other properties should
  be recorded in the field.
• Keep your descriptions as simple as possible.
  Each stop should not be turned into a
  micro-research project. When pits are opened up
  is the time to be a little more detailed.
• Record key vegetation for each stop. Geology
  should also be recorded either for the whole
  transect/traverse or for each stop if it is that
  variable.
• In the course of running a transect/traverse it
  is OK to make references to a previous stop. For
  example, if stop 2 is the same as stop 1, but is
  just a little deeper to sandstone bedrock, simply
  record for stop 2, same as stop 1 except
  sandstone bedrock occurs at 35 inches.

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Tips For Collecting Documentation

• In the course of running a transect/traverse if
  you find a pedon that you think would be make a
  good typifying or representative pedon for the
  map unit go ahead and complete a full description
  and collect box samples. You can complete a full
  description on the transect/traverse form or
  make a note on the transect/traverse form that
  you are collecting a 232 and use a 232 form to
  complete the description.
• In areas where firm map unit and series have been
  approved and are well known, it is OK to simply
  record the series name. However, dont force a
  series name if you are unsure. Not recommended
  for initial soil survey, but has use in update
  work.
• Make sure to record other things you observed
  while running the transect/traverse that did not
  fall on a point. For example, you may record
  that rock outcrop was observed, or slopes with
  lesser or greater percent were observed, or
  different ecosites were observed.
• If you chose a pedon from a transect/traverse to
  use as a typifying pedon for a progress field
  review, and you open up a pit for the review,
  make sure to adjust the description to what is
  observed in the pit. You will always see things
  differently in a pit than in a hand dug hole.

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Tips For Collecting Documentation

• Most importantly, the documentation you collect
  must be useable by someone else in the future.
• Legible
• Correctly georeferenced, if you dont have a GPS
  location mark it on the map and at least record
  the PLS location.
• Complete and Correct
• Summarized
• Should not be ambiguous. For example, if you
  cant auger below 100 cm, record whether you
  believe you were stopped by a large rock or that
  you believe it to be bedrock. Another example
  would be to identify Bk horizons as calcic or
  noncalcic horizons. Dont leave someone else
  guessing about what you observed.
• Place documentation in map unit folders and taxon
  folders where they can be accessed by all.
• Make security copies of your documentation on a
  regular basis. These can be hard copy or
  electronic copies stored at another location.