ROCKINESS
Rockiness Class

Occurrence of rock outcrops at the surface of the soil..

Codes

Valid Rockiness classes

Code	Meaning	Surface occupied by bedrock (%)
#	Not Applicable
0	Nonrocky land	< 2
1	Slightly rocky land	2-10
2	Moderately rocky land	10-25
3	Very rocky land	25-50
4	Exceedingly rocky land	50-90
5	Excessively rocky land	>90

Description

Nonrocky land
Bedrock exposures cover less than 2% of the surface and are more than 100m apart. There is some interference with tillage, but to a small extent.

Slightly rocky land
Sufficient bedrock exposures to interfere with tillage but not to make intertilled crops impracticable. Depending upon how the pattern affects tillage, rock exposures are roughly 35-100 m apart and over 2-10% of the surface.

Moderately rocky land
Sufficient bedrock exposures to make tillage of intertilled crops impracticable, but soil can be worked for hay crops or improved pasture if other soil characteristics are favorable. Rock exposures are roughly 10 - 35m apart and cover 10-25%; of the surface, depending upon the pattern.

Very rocky land
Sufficient rock outcrop to make use of machinery impracticable, except for light machinery where other soil characteristics are especially favorable for improved pasture. The land may have some use for wild pasture or forests, depending on other soil characteristics. Rock exposures, or patches of soil too thin over rock for use, are roughly 3.5910m apart and cover 25050% of the surface, depending on the pattern.

Exceedingly rocky land
Sufficient rock outcrops (or very thin soil over rock) to make all use of machinery impracticable. The land may have some value for poor pasture or for forestry. Rock outcrops are 3.5m or less apart and cover 50 - 90% of the area.

Excessively rocky land
Lind on which over 90% of the surface is exposed bedrock (rock outcrop).

 

Source: CanSIS manual for describing soils in the field
Contact: Head, CanSIS