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 site preparation on forestland. The ratings are both verbal and numerical.

     Rating class terms indicate the degree to which the soils are suited to site preparation. "Well suited" indicates that the soil has features that are favorable for the specified kind of site preparation and has no limitations. Good performance can be expected, and little or no maintenance is needed. "Poorly suited" indicates that the soil has one or more properties that are unfavorable for the specified kind of site preparation. 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 kind of site preparation 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 kind of site preparation (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 column "suitability for mechanical site preparation (surface)" are based on slope, depth to a restrictive layer, plasticity index, rock fragments on or below the surface, depth to a water table, and ponding. The soils are described as well suited, poorly suited, or unsuited to this management activity. The part of the soil from the surface to a depth of about 1 foot is considered in the ratings.

     Ratings in the column "suitability for mechanical site preparation (deep)" are based on slope, depth to a restrictive layer, rock fragments on or below the surface, depth to a water table, and ponding. The soils are described as well suited, poorly suited, or unsuited to this management activity. The part of the soil from the surface to a depth of about 3 feet is considered in the ratings.

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