This table can help forestland owners or managers plan the use of soils for wood crops. Interpretive ratings are given for the soils according to the limitations that affect planting and harvesting on forestland. The ratings are both verbal and numerical.

     Rating class terms indicate the degree to which the soils are suited to a specified aspect of forestland management. "Well suited" indicates that the soil has features that are favorable for the specified management aspect and has no limitations. Good performance can be expected, and little or no maintenance is needed. "Moderately suited" indicates that the soil has features that are moderately favorable for the specified management aspect. One or more soil properties are less than desirable, and fair performance can be expected. Some maintenance is needed. "Poorly suited" indicates that the soil has one or more properties that are unfavorable for the specified management aspect. Overcoming the unfavorable properties requires special design, extra maintenance, and costly alteration. "Unsuited" indicates that the expected performance of the soil is unacceptable for the specified management aspect or that extreme measures are needed to overcome the undesirable soil properties.

     Numerical ratings in the table indicate the severity of individual limitations. The ratings are shown as decimal fractions ranging from 0.01 to 1.00. They indicate gradations between the point at which a soil feature has the greatest negative impact on the specified aspect of forestland management (1.00) and the point at which the soil feature is not a limitation (0.00).

     The paragraphs that follow indicate the soil properties considered in rating the soils. More detailed information about the criteria used in the ratings is available in the "National Forestry Manual," which is available in local offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or on the Internet.

     Ratings in the columns "suitability for hand planting" and "suitability for mechanical planting" are based on slope, depth to a restrictive layer, content of sand, plasticity index, rock fragments on or below the surface, depth to a water table, and ponding. The soils are described as well suited, moderately suited, poorly suited, or unsuited to these methods of planting. It is assumed that necessary site preparation is completed before seedlings are planted.

     Ratings in the column "suitability for use of harvesting equipment" are based on slope, rock fragments on the surface, plasticity index, content of sand, the Unified classification, depth to a water table, and ponding. The soils are described as well suited, moderately suited, or poorly suited to this use.

Reference:
United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. National forestry manual. (http://soils.usda.gov/technical/nfhandbook/)