Keyword: NRCS

Soil Taxonomy Order (Dominant Condition)

In Data News, 2016-07-05

The most general level of classification in the USDA system of Soil Taxonomy is the Soil Order. Soil orders are frequently defined by a single dominant characteristic affecting soils in that location, e.g., the prevalent vegetation, the type of parent material, or the climate variables such as lack of precipitation or the presence of permafrost. Also significant in several soil orders is the amount of physical and chemical weathering present, and/or the relative amount of soil profile development that has taken place.

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Soil Loss Tolerance (Dominant Condition)

In Data News, 2016-07-05

Soil loss tolerance for a specific soil, also known as the T value, is the maximum average annual soil loss expressed as tons per acre per year that will permit current production levels to be maintained economically and indefinitely. T values range from 1 to 5 tons per acre per year.

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National Commodity Crop Productivity Index 3.0

In Data News, 2019-07-25

The National Commodity Crop Productivity Index 3.0 replaces version 2.0 as the National Crop Index. The NCCPI is a method of arraying the soils of the U.S. for non-irrigated commodity crop production based on their inherent soil properties. The interpretation is applicable to both heavily populated and sparsely populated areas. Ratings are for soils in their present condition. The present land use is not considered in the ratings. Most of the NCCPI criteria relate directly to the ability of soils, landscapes, and climates to foster crop productivity. The NCCPI is based on productivity for four crops: Corn, Soybeans, Small Grains, or Cotton. The maximum productivity rating, based on the highest value for these crops, is shown on the map.

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Watershed Boundary Dataset, 2-Digit Hydrologic Units

In Data News, 2020-03-02

The 2-Digit Hydrologic Units, a component of the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD), depict the major water resource regions of the United States. A water resource region is the first level of classification used by the United States Geological Survey to divide and sub-divide the United States into successively smaller hydrologic units. This first level of classification divides the United States into 22 major geographic areas, or regions. These geographic areas contain either the drainage area of a major river or the combined drainage areas of a series of rivers.

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Watershed Boundary Dataset, 4-Digit Hydrologic Units

In Data News, 2020-03-02

The 4-Digit Hydrologic Units, a component of the Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD), depict the second level hydrologic subdivision of the United States. A 4-digit hydrologic unit includes the area drained by a river system, a reach of a river and its tributaries in that reach, a closed basin(s), or a group of streams forming a coastal drainage area. There are 240 4-digit hydrologic units with an average size of 17,521 square miles (45,378 sq. km.).

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