Using Soil Data -

What soil data are in a Conservation Plan?

1. Legible soil map
   • One theme = One Map
     • If you are making soils map, show soils and soil labels; do not use field labels, acres, tract number, etc.
     • Print more maps for field/tract information, planned practices, etc.
   • Use soil map unit symbols
     • Colors are OK but rarely work by themselves. They look different on different land uses.
     • Use the Map Labels Button in Toolkit to create labels on the soil map
       • Labels can be moved
       • Labels can be made a different color
       • References: Guide to ArcMap Basics, Appendix D; Online Toolkit Help (Toolkit ArcMap Extension, Map Labels Tool)
   • Other tips:
     • Field boundaries, roads, streams can be shown on the soil map but do not label them. Show them only when needed.
     • Is the aerial photography really needed? Ortho may add much needed information but, does it? Try looking at the soil map with out it. Does it relay the same information?
     • Solid colors look different over woods, water, mowed fields, etc - separation of semi-transparent colors may be hard for some people.
     • Be sure you are using the color ramp "Basic Random"
2. Legend for soil map
   • Use those only specific to the farm/tract of the conservation plan (do not use the whole county's legend)
   • Printed from Soil Data Mart or from the data on the local F: drive. No other source is acceptable.
   • Click here to see the procedure for printing legends
3. Map unit descriptions
   • Use those only specific to the farm/tract of the conservation plan
   • Printed from Soil Data Mart or from the data on the local F: drive. No other source is acceptable.
   • Click here to see the procedure for printing descriptions

Soil Map Examples

Click on the thumbnail below to view soil map examples.

Solid Color use of 3 soil map units  

Use of symbols