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Soil

The Importance of Soil

Soil is a fundamental component of agriculture and life, and therefore one of our most important natural resources. Here you will find information on a broad range of topics, including soil science, health, structure, composition, biology and erosion.

Soil Research and Resources

Selected links from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • ARS National Program 212: Soil and Air [usda.gov]

    The ARS National Soil and Air Program has as its mission: to improve the quality of atmosphere and soil resources affected by, and having an effect on agriculture, and to understand the effects of, and prepare agriculture for, adaptation to climate change.

  • Soil Climate Hub [usda.gov]

    United States Department of Agriculture.

    The USDA Climate Hubs and partners develop tools and resources to faciliatate climate change adaption across the country.

  • Soils Site [usda.gov]

    USDA. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

    The NRCS Soils website focuses on Soil Health, Soil Survey, and individual soil topics.

  • Soil [usda.gov]

    USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

    APHIS provides general information and permitting requirements on soil.  "Soil is strictly controlled under APHIS quarantine regulations 7 CFR 330 because it can readily provide a pathway for the introduction of a variety of dangerous organisms into the United States." (USDA)

  • Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR) [usda.gov]

    United States Department of Agriculture.

    LTAR's mission is to develop "national strategies for the sustainable intensification of agriculture production" of which soil health plays an important role.

  • Research Laboratories and Centers [usda.gov]

    United States Department of Agriculture.

    Locate USDA experts and research on soils, soils and water issues, conservation, management, and related research.

Special Collections about Soil

National Agricultural Library
Image
Charles E. Kellogg.

Charles E. Kellogg.

Image credit: Charles Edwin Kellogg Papers. Special Collections, USDA National Agricultural Library.

Soil Productivity

George Washington Carver Digital Exhibit



The exhibit focuses on the Carver's soil science publications while at the Tuskegee Agricultural Experiment Station, along with a small sample of full-text USDA publications on the same topic.

 

SoilWeb

Use SoilWeb applications to access and explore detailed soil survey maps and data  for most of the United States, as well as maps and data outside of Web Soil Survey.

USDA Soil Samples Collection

In 2015, NAL hosted "Soils in the Classroom-Unearthed.  Celebrating the Discovery and Donation of a Historic Soils Collection."

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