United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Tennessee Go to Accessibility Information
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Soil Data

Quick links:
Tennessee's spatial, tabular soil data or reports - To view an interactive status map of soils data and access via the Soil Data Mart
Soil Data Mart - To view or download soils data across the nation
 

Spatial and Tabular Data explained

Soil data exist in two forms - spatial and tabular data.  Spatial data consist of soil lines and symbols while tabular data contain rows and columns of information about specific types of soil.  Spatial data answer "Where?" and "How much?" while tabular data answer questions like "How deep to rock?", "How much sand or clay?", "Does this soil flood?".  To use spatial data, you will need a Geographic Information System (GIS).  To use tabular data on your computer, you will need Microsoft® Access.

Some examples of the type of data in tabular data bases are:

  • Percent sand, silt, clay

  • Horizon or layer depths

  • Depth to [some soil property]

  • Suitability ratings

  • Soil classification

  • Legend and map unit name

  • Metadata

The Soil Data Mart

The Soil Data Mart is the primary source of soil data.  Many reports are available on-line or you can choose to download tabular and spatial data.  The Soil Data Mart offers many advantages:

  • Determine where soil tabular and spatial data is available.
  • Download data for one soil survey area at a time.
  • Download a template Microsoft Access® database for working with downloaded data.
  • Generate a variety of reports for one soil survey area at a time.
  • Find out who to contact for information about soil data for a particular state.
  • "Subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to a soil survey area. A person who is subscribed will automatically be notified whenever data for that soil survey area is updated. You must register and login before doing this.

Acquiring Tennessee Soils Data

Soils information can be acquired by running reports online or by downloading the data to your computer (if you have Microsoft Access®). 

To view a soil data status map click  Adobe Acrobat Document here (150KB). 

 

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