Learn About Your Soil

North Carolina Soils (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
N.C. Soil Survey data is provided here.

Forest Soils and Site Index (N.C. State University Extension)
Soils will determine which tree species yield the greatest timber volume, the time to harvest, and ultimately, the investment a landowner must make to yield an acceptable economic return from forest management.

Forest Soils of Mississippi (Mississippi State University Extension)
Although written for Mississippi, this article has basic soil information that is relevant in any state.

Soils Overview (University of Florida IFAS Extension)
Soil is the portion of the earth’s crust in which plants can grow if water and temperature are adequate, at least the minimum nutrients are available, and toxic substances are in low concentration. All soils develop from weathered rock, volcanic ash deposits, or accumulated plant residues.

An Introduction to Soils; Getting Grounded (on demand webinar, University of Georgia PINEMAP)
This first session of a three-part series will offer a brief, but comprehensive refresher on soil basics, including how to identify specific soil types, their specific capacities for supporting plant life, their responses to water and learning the affects (both ecologically and economically) that those soils can have on your property and trees alike.

Soils 101 (USDA NRCS)
Soil is a naturally occurring mixture of mineral and organic ingredients with a definite form, structure, and composition. The exact composition of soil changes from one location to another.

Soil Science Glossary (Soil Science Society of America)

Forest Soil Data (Washington State University Extension)
The soil is one of the most important resources in your forest, and a key factor in forest productivity. Understanding the soil types and characteristics in your forest is critical for management planning.

Map Your Soil (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
This interactive map allows you to explore USDA-NCSS soil survey data for locations throughout most of the U.S. It is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

Web Soil Survey (Natural Resources Conservation Service)
Web Soil Survey (WSS) provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. It is operated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and provides access to the largest natural resource information system in the world. The program is available for use on both desktop and mobile devices.

What is Soil? video (N.C. Forestry Association)
This brief video explains the difference between soil and dirt.