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<br />(
<br />CA-CPA-6
<br />5-81
<br />
<br />.s. Department of Agriculture
<br />~oil Conservation Service
<br />
<br />THE LAND CAP ABILITY CLASSIFICATION
<br />
<br />The capability classification is a practical grouping of soils. Soils and climate are consid~red
<br />together as they influence use, management, and production pn the rarm or ranch.
<br />
<br />The classification contains two general divisions: (1) Land suited ror cultivation and other uses,
<br />and (2) land limited in use and generally not suited Cor cultivation. Each ot these broad divi-
<br />sions has four classes which are shown on the map by a standard color and number. The hazards
<br />and limita tions in use increase as the class number increases. Class 1 has few hazards or
<br />limitations, or none, whereas Class VIII has a great many.
<br />
<br />LAND SUITED fOR CULTIVATION
<br />AND OTHE" USES
<br />
<br />a
<br />
<br />B
<br />
<br />B
<br />
<br />ICLASS I vi
<br />
<br />Sod. In Cl... I ha..e rcw or no
<br />llaitalion. or halsrds. They .ay
<br />b.la.d ..fcly for c\,dtlyated
<br />crops, pa.tur., rllllp, _dl_d,
<br />or -lId! d..
<br />
<br />Soih in Clua II hne f.w !ia-
<br />itltion. or hSlard.. Si~le con-
<br />..rYltion pr.clice~ Ire needed
<br />wIlca cultiystcd. They arc suited
<br />to cyltl..lted crop., pa.ture,
<br />r &lip, wood 1 an d, 0 r wild 1 i f e.
<br />
<br />Soil. in Cl... III h.... aore
<br />li.ltation. and h.lard. than
<br />thoae in CIa.. II. They require
<br />aore difficult or comples con-
<br />..rya tlon p racti ces when cuI tl-
<br />.IUel. They are aui ted 14 cul-
<br />ti..atad crops. p.sturc, raDle,
<br />woodland, or wlldllfe.
<br />
<br />Soils in Clus IV 1I..e Ireater
<br />li.itatioes led hlllrds thin
<br />Cl... III. Still acre diffiC\l! t
<br />or c_pl.s _asure. are ee.ded
<br />wbea C\lltiyated. ihey .re suited
<br />to aalti..ted cro~. p..ture,
<br />r..c., .oodlsnd. or wildlife.
<br />
<br />LAND LIMITED IN USE-~GENERALLY
<br />NOT SUITED FOR CULTIVATION
<br />
<br />B
<br />
<br />B
<br />
<br />ICLASS VIll
<br />
<br />ICLASS VIl~
<br />
<br />Soila in Cl..a V hue little or
<br />no ero.ion hsurd bu thaI'. other
<br />li.itauma th.t pre...nt nor..1
<br />tilla,e for culti.e~.d crop..
<br />They .re .yited to plsture,
<br />r...., woodland, or wlldllf..
<br />
<br />Soils in CII.s VI baye scyere
<br />1 iai tatlC.\s or buarcb that .u.e
<br />th.. ieaerally ~n.uited for cul-
<br />ti""lon. They Ire suited large-
<br />ly to pa.ture, ranc., ~odl&Ad.
<br />or .ildl iIe.
<br />
<br />Soil. in Class VII ha..e T.ry
<br />seyere ll.itationl or halarda
<br />that ...... th_ renerally W1.Ul t.
<br />cd {or cuI tiyation. They Ice
<br />lui ted to ,ruin I, woodland, 0 c
<br />.ddli (e.
<br />
<br />Soill and land {or.. in Clua
<br />VIII ha.. li.itatlons and hll.
<br />aro. the t pr...en t thei r u.e Lo r
<br />culti.lted crops, pa.ture.
<br />reap, or w_elland. ihey aa.,. b.
<br />~aed for r.er.aeiaD, wildllf.,
<br />or water aupply.
<br />
<br />Capabilily classes are divided inlo subclasses. These show the principal kinds of conserva-
<br />tion problems involved. The subclasses are: He" ror erosion, "w" ror wetness, "s" for soil,
<br />and "c" for climate.
<br />
<br />Capabili ly classes and subclasses, in. turn, may be di vided into capabili ty units. A capability
<br />unit contains soils that are nearly alike in plant growth and in management needs.
<br />
<br />The units are: "1" erosion hazard; "2" wetness problems; "3" slowly permeable subsoil; Hi"
<br />coarse texture, low waler-holding capacity, "5" fine textures, tillage problems; "6" salinity
<br />or alkali; "7" cobbly, rocky, or stony; "8" root zone limitation, bedrock, or hardpan; "9" low
<br />fertility, acidity, or toxic properties; and "0" very coarse textured substratum.
<br />
<br />III sa
<br />/'
<br />Subclau '" U"it
<br />
<br />CIAU _
<br />
<br />E X AMP L .:
<br />
<br />EX8
<br />
<br />"l .,- 7
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