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 various aspects of forestland management. The ratings are both verbal and numerical.

     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.

     For "limitations affecting construction of haul roads and log landings," the ratings are based on slope, flooding, permafrost, plasticity index, the hazard of soil slippage, content of sand, the Unified classification, rock fragments on or below the surface, depth to a restrictive layer that is indurated, depth to a water table, and ponding. The limitations are described as slight, moderate, or severe. A rating of "slight" indicates that no significant limitations affect construction activities, "moderate" indicates that one or more limitations can cause some difficulty in construction, and "severe" indicates that one or more limitations can make construction very difficult or very costly.

     The ratings of "suitability for log landings" are based on slope, rock fragments on the surface, plasticity index, content of sand, the Unified classification, depth to a water table, ponding, flooding, and the hazard of soil slippage. The soils are described as well suited, moderately suited, or poorly suited to use as log landings. "Well suited" indicates that the soil has features that are favorable for log landings 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 log landings. 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 log landings. Overcoming the unfavorable properties requires special design, extra maintenance, and costly alteration.

     Ratings in the column "soil rutting hazard" are based on depth to a water table, rock fragments on or below the surface, the Unified classification, depth to a restrictive layer, and slope. Ruts form as a result of the operation of forestland equipment. The hazard is described as slight, moderate, or severe. A rating of "slight" indicates that the soil is subject to little or no rutting, "moderate" indicates that rutting is likely, and "severe" indicates that ruts form readily.

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