Overview Of
Classification Methodology
For
Determining Land Capability For
Agriculture
The CLI
agriculture product shows the varying potential of a specific area
for agricultural production. It indicates the classes and
subclasses according to the Soil Capability Classification of
Agriculture, which is based on characteristics of the soil as
determined by soil surveys. The mineral soils are grouped into 7
classes and 13 subclasses according to the potential of each soil
for the production of field crops. Organic soils are not a part of
the classification and are shown as a single separate unit
(0).
These
agricultural capability maps can be used at the regional level for
making decisions on land improvement and farm consolidation, for
developing land-use plans, and for preparing equitable land
assessments.
Some of
the important factors on which agricultural classification is based
are: 1) The soils will be well managed and cropped, under a largely
mechanized system. 2) Land requiring improvements, including
clearing, that can be made economically by the farmer, is classed
according to its limitations or hazards in use after the
improvements have been made. Land requiring improvements beyond the
means of the farmer is classed according to its present condition.
3) The following are not considered: distances to marker, kind of
roads, location , size of farms, type of ownership, cultural
patters, skill or resources of individual operations, and hazard of
crop damage by storms. 4) The classification does not include
capability of soils for trees, tree fruits, small fruits,
ornamental plants, recreation, or wildlife. 5) The classes are
based on the intensity, rather than kinds, of their limitations for
agriculture. Each class includes many kinds of soil, and many of
the soils in any class require unique management and treatment. 6)
Land given a capability classification of 6 or 7 will never warrant
irrigation since the benefits derived from irrigation would be
negligible. For this reason, capability Classes 6 and 7 will always
appear in the non-irrigated portion (Classes A to C) of a land unit
classification
You can
find out more about the CLI mapping project at geogratis.
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