Field Biology Packet
Soils # 11
LAND CAPABILITY IN
CARBON COUNTY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A map showing soil associations is useful to people who want a general idea of the soils in a
county, who want to compare different parts of a county, or who want to know the location of
large tracts that are suitable for a certain kind of land use.
Such a map is a useful general guide in managing a watershed, a wooded tract, or a wildlife area,
or in planning engineering works, recreational facilities, and community developments. It is not a
suitable map for planning the management of a farm or field; however it can be used to
determine the suitability of the placement of a farm. It should also not be used for selecting the
exact location of a road, building, or similar structure, because the soils in any one association
ordinarily differ in slope, depth, stoniness, drainage, and other characteristics that affect their
management.
OBJECTIVES
Students will
 identify the soil associations in Carbon County, PA
 identify the soil associations in Baltimore County, MD
 compare soil content
 read a soil map in order to determine appropriate land uses and apply best management
practices.
MATERIALS
colored pencils
PROCEDURE
1. Using the charts and Soil Map work through Part I, answering all questions.
2. Using the charts work through Part II, answering all questions.
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Part I: Soil Associations
Soil Associations in Baltimore County
Soil
Association
ChesterGlenelg
ManorGlenelgBaltimoreConestogaHagerstown
ChromeWatchung
Letter
Abbreviation
C (all 2nd letters
except a, h, k, l,
o, w) or G
M (all 2nd letters
except l or m) or
G
B (all 2nd letters
except t or u) or
Cw or Ha
Co or Wa, Wc
LegoreAldinoNeshaminy
Le, Lf, Lg, Lh or
Ad, As, Au or
Ne
BeltsvilleChillumSassafras
Loamy and
Clayey LandLenoirBeltsville
Bt, Bu or Ch,
Ck, Cl or Sh, Sl,
Sn, Ss
Ly, Ll, Lm, Ln,
Lo or Bt, Bu
Sassafras-
Sh, Sl, Sn, Ss or
Woodstown-
Wd, Wo, or Fa,
Fallsington
Fs
Mattapex-
Ml, Mm or Br or
Barclay-
Ot
Description
Dominantly gently sloping to moderately steep, deep, well-drained soils that
have a subsoil of silt loam to light silty clay loam; underlain by acid
crystalline rock; on uplands
Gently sloping to very steep, deep, well-drained and somewhat excessively
drained soils that have a subsoil of loam to light silty clay loam; underlain by
acid crystallization rock; on uplands
Dominantly level to moderately sloping, deep, well-drained soils that have a
subsoil of clay loam to clay; underlain by limestone, marble, or calciferous
schist; in valleys
Dominantly sloping to steep, shallow, well-drained soils that have a subsoil
of silty clay loam and level to gently sloping, poorly drained soils that have a
subsoil of silty clay; underlain by basic rock; on uplands
Gently sloping to steep, deep, well-drained soils that have a subsoil of silty
clay loam or clay loam and level to moderately sloping, moderately well
drained soils that have a subsoil of silty clay loam and a fragipan; underlain
by basic rock; on uplands
Level to moderately sloping that have a subsoil of silt loam or silty clay loam
and a fragipan, and well-drained soils that have a subsoil of sandy clay loam
to silt loam; underlain by thick stratified sediment; on uplands
Nearly level to steep land of sandy loam to clay loam over clay and
somewhat poorly drained and moderately well drained soils that have a
subsoil of dominantly silty clay loam and silt loam; underlain by thick
stratified sediment; on uplands
Well drained, moderately well drained, and poorly drained soils that have a
subsoil of sandy clay loam; underlain by thick stratified sediment; on
uplands
Moderately well drained, somewhat poorly drained, and poorly drained soils
that have a subsoil of silt loam or silty clay loam; underlain by thick
stratified sediment; on uplands
Othello
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The pieces of information that you see on a Soil Map are:



One capital letter sometimes with a lowercase letter: Indicates the soil association.
Second capital letter: A, B, C, D, or E shows the slope. Some soils do not have a second
capital letter, because they are relatively flat. The higher in the alphabet the greater the
slope.
A final number, 2 or 3, in the symbol shows that it is moderately eroded or severely
eroded. If no number is present assume that the soil is not eroded.
SOIL MAP
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ANALYSIS
PART I
A) Using the Soil Map and Soil Associations in Baltimore County Chart (Above), answer
the following questions:
1. What are the four major soil associations present in the box on the Soil Map?
a. _________________________________
b. _________________________________
c. _________________________________
d. _________________________________
2. What one soil abbreviation (just 1st two letters) is most common in the box? What is the
name of the soil?
a. Abbreviation_______
b. Name of soil association ____________________________
3. Most of the soils in the box on the map have “2” or “3” after the soil name. What do these
numbers mean?
4. The soil that you named above is considered to be well drained to somewhat excessively
drained. These soils have a surface layer of reddish brown loam (7 inches thick) and a
subsoil of yellowish-red loam (15 inches thick) underlain by red, loose micaceous loam
that grades to hard micaceous rock at depth of 83 inches. These soils are the most
susceptible to erosion in the county. Slope and hazard of erosion are slight to severe
limitations, and in large areas, stoniness is also a limitation of
use.
a. In the adjacent box draw a soil profile of the soil using
the description above. The soil profile should be colored
and labeled.
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Using the Soil Map and Soil Associations in Carbon County Chart (below), answer the
following questions:
5. What are the four major soil associations present in the box on the Soil Map?
a. _________________________________
b. _________________________________
c. _________________________________
d. _________________________________
6. What one soil abbreviation (just 1st two letters) is most common in the box? What is the
name of the soil?
a. Abbreviation_______
b. Name of soil association ____________________________
7. Do any of the soils in the box on the map have “2” or “3” after the soil name? Explain
why in Maryland (specifically Baltimore County) this would be occurring?
8. The soil that you named above is considered to be a) ___________ drained to moderately
b)__________ drained. These soils have a surface layer of c)__________ __________
and a subsoil of d)____________ ____________/ e)____________ ____________/ . This
color is mostly f)____________ ____________. The parent material g)____________
____________.
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Part II: Land Capability
Land capability classification is used in a soil
survey to group mapping units that require
similar management, treatment needs, and have
limitations for agricultural production. The soils
with the same capability unit, if used for crop
production, should have comparable yields for
similar crops and need the same input of
management. The following is an example of
what a soil capability unit looks like, IIIe-2.



III e-2
Capability
unit
Capability class
Capability
subclass
Capability Class: The larger the Roman numeral, the more limitations the land has for
agricultural production and the more intensive the management practices needed to
produce yields and prevent soil erosion.
Capability Subclass: There are three main sub-capability subclasses of soils in
Maryland, s, e, and w. Soils that are shallow or droughty are classified as s, soils that are
susceptible to erosion are classified as e, and soils with wetness limitations are classified
as w.
Capability Unit: There are soil groups within the subclass. The soils in one capability
unit are enough alike to be suited to the same crops.
Capability Class
Class I
Class II
Class III
Class IV
Class V
Class VI
Class VII
Class VIII
Description


No limiting factors
Nearly level

Gently sloping, or moderately well drained, or moderately deep

Strongly sloping, or somewhat poorly drained, or poorly drained, or shallow

Moderately steep, or very poorly drained, or occasionally flooded

Nearly level and very stony, rock outcrop, or frequently flooded

Steep, or gently sloping through steep with a very stony surface or rock
outcrop

Very steep with or without a very stony surface or rock outcrop, or very
shallow soils

Flooded daily, continuously ponded, >90% rock outcrop, stones or
boulders, pits, mine dumps, beaches, or urban land
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PART II Theses questions are for Baltimore County Only :
1. Using the previous description of the soil in Part I, Question 4 to complete the following
checklist. Check all the limitations that apply to the soil:
Flooding or ponding (not well drained)
Slope (gently sloping or greater)
Past erosion (severe)
Ineffective rooting depth (bedrock at 40” or less)
Water capacity (limited)
Very stony or rock outcrop
2. Based on the previous description of your soil (Part I, Question 4), checklist, and
Capability Class Table, at what capability class would you classify this soil? Why?
3. Is this prime farmland, i.e. Land Capability Class I or II? Why or why not?
4. Is the potential future erosion of this soil a concern if cultivated or disturbed? Circle one.
a. Slight (nearly level)
b. Moderate (gently sloping)
c. Severe (strongly sloping, very steep)
5. Think about your answer to Question 3. What Best Management Practices (BMPs) are
needed at this site (check all that apply)?
Drainage (moderately well, somewhat poor, poorly drained, or
very poorly drained)
Irrigation (excessively well drained)
Contour farming (gently sloping)
Contour strip-cropping (strongly sloping or moderately steep)
Grassed waterway (drainage which conveys concentrated runoff)
No-till farming (gently sloping, strongly sloping, or moderately
steep)
Permanent vegetation (shrubs, trees)
Cover crop
6. What is the role that a soil map could play in preventing urban sprawl? In your answer be
sure to include information on soil capability. Refer to Background Information.
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