TOFG-all

Soils & Soil Physical Properties

Unit 2.1 | Part 2 – 39

INSTITUTIONS

Cooperative Extension Service or Farm Advisors

office

Staff from these offices will be aware of crop

nutrient needs and problems in your area.

They can assist you with nutrient deficiency

symptoms and known plant nutrition problems

in your area.

US Department of Agriculture–Natural Resources

Conservation Service (USDA–NRCS) field offices

Information about soils in your area can be

obtained from NRCS field offices. They are

usually listed in the U.S. Government pages

of the phone book under US Department of

Agriculture. They may also be listed as USDA

Service Center. Some areas do not have NRCS

offices but do have Resource Conservation

District offices that can provide the same

information.

University of Florida IFAS Extension

edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae460

Includes a nice graphic of the relationships

among plant available water (PAW), soil

field capacity, permanent wilting point, soil

unavailable water, and soil textural class, as well

as information on using soil moisture sensors.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Soils Website

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/soils/

home/

Provides a “portal” to USDA NRCS resources,

including surveys, publications, and educational

opportunities.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Munsell System of Color Notation

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/

edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_054286

Describes the system used to classify soil

color and the significance of soil color in

understanding soil composition.

EDUCATION LINKS

soilsassociation.org/Links.htm

Educational links assembled by the United

States Consortium of Soil Science Associations

VIDEOS & FILMS

How Water Moves through Soil. USDA Soil Conser-
vation Service, Arizona Department of Agriculture.
Irrigation Toolbox (34 minutes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph-7tQuIbz4

Shows the movement of water through different

soil types—great visuals

Symphony of the Soil, 2012. Directed by Deborah
Koons Garcia (103 minutes)

http://www.symphonyofthesoil.com

An artistic and scientific exploration of soil,

examining its complex dynamics as well as

the human relationship with soil, the use and

misuse of soil in agriculture, deforestation and

development, and the latest scientific research

on soil’s key role in ameliorating the most

challenging environmental issues of our time.

Filmed on four continents, featuring esteemed

scientists and working farmers and ranchers.

Resources