A soil map is a detailed representation of the distribution of various soil types across a specific area. These maps are essential for understanding the physical and chemical properties of soils, including their texture, structure, and fertility. Soil maps on AcreValue allow users to visualize the different soil types present on their properties, helping to identify areas of higher productivity or areas that may require different management practices.
AcreValue gathers its soil information from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey database. The NRCS has conducted soil surveys across the lower 48 states, providing comprehensive data on soil characteristics, classifications, and productivity indices.
Why Are Soil Maps and Soil Productivity Values Helpful to Users?
Soil maps and productivity values provide crucial insights for various stakeholders involved in land management, farming, and real estate. These tools help in these ways:
- Farmers and Landowners: Determine the potential yield and profitability of their land based on soil productivity, aiding decisions on buying, selling, or renting properties.
- Realtors and Land Brokers: Highlight properties with desirable soil characteristics to clients, and help them identify valuable properties.
- Appraisers and Assessors: Assess the value of a property based on its soil productivity, which is a critical factor in determining land value.
- Bankers and Lenders: Evaluate whether a property qualifies for loans by understanding its potential productivity and land value, and monitor the value of collateral properties.
- Developers and Land Managers: Decide the best use for a property, whether for agricultural purposes or for development, based on the soil's productivity.
What Data Are Provided in the Soil Map?
When users access a soil map on AcreValue, they are presented with a variety of data categories that provide detailed information about the soils on a property. The major data categories include:
- Soil Code: A unique alphanumeric identifier assigned to each soil type by the NRCS. This code is used to reference specific soils within the database.
- Soil Description: A brief summary of the soil type, including information about its texture, drainage, and other key characteristics.
- Acreage: The total area covered by each soil type within the property boundary, measured in acres.
- Percentage of Field: The proportion of the total property area occupied by each soil type, expressed as a percentage.
- Soil Class: A classification of the soil’s capability for agricultural production, typically rated on a scale where Class I represents the highest capability and Class VIII the lowest.
- Productivity Index Value: A numeric value representing the soil’s potential for agricultural productivity. This index varies depending on the local or regional metric used, such as PI, CSR2, CPI, or NCCPI.
These data categories collectively provide a comprehensive overview of the soils present on a property, allowing users to make informed decisions based on the soil characteristics.
What Are the Different Soil Productivity Indices Available Within the US?
Soil productivity indices are metrics used to evaluate the potential yield and productivity of soils. Different regions in the United States use different indices:
- National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI): A broader index used across multiple states. NCCPI values range from 0 to 1, with higher values indicating better productivity for commodity crops.
- Productivity Index (PI): Commonly used in Illinois (IL). The PI ranges from 0 to 147, with higher numbers indicating more productive soils. Prime farmland is generally categorized as soils within the PI range of 100-147.
- Corn Suitability Rating 2 (CSR2): Used in Iowa (IA). CSR2 values range from 5 to 100, with higher numbers representing better soil for corn production.
- Crop Productivity Index (CPI): Used in Minnesota (MN). CPI values range from 0 to 100, where higher values indicate greater soil productivity and suitability for crop production.
How Is the Average Soil Productivity Index for a Property Calculated?
The average soil productivity index value for a selected property is calculated using an acreage-weighted average method. This means that each soil type’s productivity index is multiplied by the acreage it covers on the property, and then these values are summed up. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
- Calculate the Contribution of Each Soil Type: For each soil type, divide the acreage covered by the total acreage of the field (resulting in a percentage value representing the percentage of the field covered).
- Apply Field Cover Percentage to Productivity Index: Multiply the productivity index of each soil type by the percentage of the field it covers (calculated in the previous step).
- Sum the Contributions: Add up the results from the previous step for all soil types present on the property.
How Can Users Find Soil Productivity Information for Their Property?
To access soil productivity information on AcreValue:
- Log in to AcreValue: Ensure you are logged into your AcreValue account.
- Navigate to the map: Go to the map section of AcreValue.
- Select a Property Boundary or Sale Record: Click on a property boundary or a sale record to open its summary page.
- View the Weighted-Average Soil Productivity Index: On the summary page, the weighted-average soil productivity index score for the entire property will be displayed, using the primary local soil productivity index (e.g., PI, CSR2, CPI, NCCPI).
- Generate a Full AcreValue Property Report: For a detailed soil map, generate a full AcreValue property report.
- Navigate to the “Soil Survey” Section: Once the report is generated, go to the “Soil Survey” portion to view the soil map and detailed information.
