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Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
understanding the effects of soil management on a specific soil resource. The approaches have development of a more complete informa-
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
result, soil quahty was recogruzed and inter- nonagricultural uses, considers soil as a phys- soils, a flexible suite of biological, chemical,
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
tal needs, we offer the following corrections [USDA-NRCS], 1996) and therefore not The soil ratings for plant growth model was
Figure i
The soil ratings for plant growth (SRPG) model for rain-fed, nonirrigated production throughout the United States (USDA-NRCS, 1996).
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
debeating root zone avadable water capacity tion and indexing are taxonomically biased. even though Sojka et al. (2003) cite more
Figure 2
Plant available water holding capacity for soils within the United States (USDA-NRCS, iggga).
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
Once again, Sojka et al. (2003) chose to is most often based on expert opinion (e.g.; hnctions (i.e.; good or bad, yes or no) may
Figure 3
D o h n a n l s o i l orders within the United States (USDA-NRCS, 1gggb).
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
For agronomic uses, thresholds should be goals, soil functions, and site-specific criteria. Research Service (USDA-ARS) scientists con-
Figure 4
The soil ratings for plant growth (SRPG) model for irrigated production throughout the United States (USDA-NRCS, 2002).
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SOlL SURVEY ATUS Of AGROECOUIGY CONTERMINOUSUNITEDSTATES Soil Rating for Piant Cmwth 2002 -Irrigated Condition
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
ter soils is used as one reason why some sug- for the intended use of the soil, local manage- need to improve public awareness about soil
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
Alberta, Canada. program effects on soil quality indicators. Journal of Soil
that the degree of flexibihty offered through
Copyright © 2003 Soil and Water Conservation Society. All rights reserved.
Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). 1996. Soil rat-