NSSH Part 630

Benchmark Soils

Definition and Purpose (630.00)

1. Definition.
   
   A benchmark soil is one of large extent within one or more major land resource areas (MLRA), one that holds a key position in the soil classification system, one for which there is a large amount of data, one that has special importance to one or more significant land uses, or one that is of significant ecological importance.
    
2. Purpose.
   
   Benchmark soils, while being important soils in their own right, are also intended to serve as proxies for other similar soils. Their purpose is to focus data collection and the investigative effort on soils that have the greatest potential for extending collected data and resultant interpretations to other soils. This purpose is relevant both in making soil surveys and to soil survey customers in their goal to extend findings of their research The cost of investigation and the large number of combinations of soil uses and management practices preclude laboratory and field studies of all soils; therefore, studies of benchmark soils are an essential component of developing nationwide soil databases and soil interpretations. Data obtained by studying benchmark soils can be used to help estimate important properties in similar soils. Benchmark soils can also be used to test new interpretations or to provide input to regional scale models. Knowledge of the properties and behavior of benchmark soils contributes to the understanding and interpretation of other soils with similar properties. This knowledge is important to soil technology and the use of soil surveys.
   
   Lists of benchmark soils are useful in planning many kinds of soil studies. The designation of “benchmark” facilitates the selection of soils that meet research and other study objectives while also allowing for maximum extension of study data. Benchmark soils can be selected for their representativeness and included in studies of single soils or a suite of soils, such as those representing a gradient in temperature or moisture across a region. The list and accompanying information about the soil’s classification, land uses, land cover, and ecological significance are useful in the development of cross-site studies or networks, such as soil monitoring networks.
   
   Example uses for benchmark soils:
   • extending estimated soil property data to similar soils
   • documenting soil properties for ecological site descriptions
   • assessing conservation effects
   • evaluating soil interpretations
   • studying macro/micronutrient and trace elements
   • monitoring change in soil quality and natural resource condition
   • measuring saturated hydraulic conductivity
   • documenting attainable dynamic soil property values for specific management systems
   • verifying and testing soil erodibility factors
   • collecting crop and range plant adaptation and yields
   • assessing soil fertility
   • locating sources for training materials and onsite training activities
   • modeling crop/soil/pesticide scenarios for surface water and groundwater assessments
   • modeling pedotransfer functions
   • conducting cross-site research
      

Policy and Responsibilities (630.01)

1. The MLRA Soil Survey Office (MLRA SSO) is responsible for:
   • through cooperation and consultation with the technical team members, evaluating the benchmark soils in their area of responsibility for adherence to the benchmark soils definition and purpose,
   • proposing changes to the benchmark soils status of soil series through the MLRA Soil Survey Area Management Team to the MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office,
   • identifying soil series that are considered similar to the benchmark soils for the extrapolation and transfer of data,
   • ensuring pedon descriptions are in NASIS pedon for benchmark soil sampling sites,
   • Including a focus on benchmark soils in long-range, project, and investigation plans,
   • developing an inventory of existing data for benchmark soils within their area of responsibility. assessing the adequacy of the data ,and developing plans to fill identified data gaps, and
   • developing a narrative record for each benchmark soil within their area of responsibility.
      
2. The MLRA Soil Survey Regional Office (MO) is responsible for:
   • maintaining the benchmark status data element for soil series in the soil classification database,
   • assuring that benchmark soils are adequately addressed in MLRA SSO long-range, project, and investigation plans,
   • assuring the entire MLRA is adequately represented by an optimal number of benchmark soils by approving/denying recommendations for changes to benchmark soil status,
   • maintaining an inventory of existing data for benchmark soils, as supplied by each MLRA SSO, for their region,
   • consulting with appropriate members of MLRA Management Teams with regard to requests for revisions to benchmark status, and
   • focusing long-range soil survey investigation plans on benchmark soils and their characteristics.
      
3. The state soil scientist is responsible for:
   • reviewing proposed changes, as a member of a MLRA Management Team, to the benchmark status of soil series, and forwarding those that the management team concurs with to the MO for approval,
   • soliciting input from cooperators and interdisciplinary specialists in the selection of benchmark soils, and
   • ensuring that benchmark soils are considered in organizing and planning research, special studies, and investigations.
      
4. The National Soil Survey Center (NSSC) is responsible for:
   • providing policy and guidance in the selection of benchmark soils,
   • providing customer support assuring that internet access and query routines for benchmark soils are available and functioning properly,
   • communicating and consulting with the staff at the site hosting the electronic files needed to deliver benchmark soil information,
   • through liaisons assigned to each MO and MLRA SSO, assisting in the development of investigations plans,
   • performing laboratory characterization, and
   • maintaining the laboratory database.
      
5. The National Geospatial Development Center is responsible for:
   • developing Web-based geospatial analysis tools for use in analyzing and revising benchmark soils by major land resource area, and
   • developing Web-based map display products.
      

Criteria for Selecting Benchmark Soils (630.02)

1. Criteria.
   
   The soil series that are designated as benchmark soils within an MLRA should collectively reflect the major diversity of soils within the area. The criteria are:
    
   1. Extent. The soil series that are selected as benchmark soils are commonly of large extent (>100,000 acres) in the Land Resource Region (LRR), and of moderate or large extent (> 10,000 acres) in the Major Land Resource Area. Not all series of moderate or large extent are benchmark soils. Generally, the combined total extent of all benchmark soils should comprise about 20 to 25 percent of the total soil area of the major land resource area. When combining the extent of the benchmark soils plus the extent of similar soils that they represent, collectively they are representative of 60 to 80 percent or more of all soils in the major land resource area. This kind of representation ensures that any collected data are widely applicable.
       
   2. Key taxonomic classes. Soils that are representative of key positions in Soil Taxonomy within the MLRA (such as commonly occurring great groups, subgroups, or families) are considered for benchmark soil designation. Research on these can be easily applied to other soils in those classes. Typically no more than one or two soils from the same family are designated as benchmark soils within an MLRA. See item 4 below for a reason to have more than one.
       
   3. Existing data. When similar soils are potential candidates for benchmark soil designation, soil series for which there are adequate amounts of data have preference over equally suitable series for which there are less data. Data-completeness of correlated pedon data must be evaluated concurrently with analyses of series extent, taxonomic significance, or unique importance. The national cooperative soil characterization database (http://ssldata.nrcs.usda.gov/), maintained by the National Soil Survey Center, includes laboratory data for benchmark soils. In addition, soil survey investigations reports identify benchmark soils. This will optimize the identification of potential benchmark candidates.
      
      Benchmark soils need to be well documented with complete characterization data. Ideally, there should be 3 to 5 pedons characterized. Each description must be accurately georeferenced. The data should include physical characterization (e.g. particle-size, bulk density, moisture characteristics, Atterberg limits, etc), chemical characterization (e.g. pH, base status, CEC, organic carbon, and calcium carbonate equivalent as applicable, etc), and mineralogical characterization (e.g., clay minerals, grain counts). Additional data such as cations extracted by ammonium oxalate, cations extracted by dithionate citrate, electrical conductivity, COLE, phosphate retention, exchangeable sodium percentage, melanic index, or other properties are important for some soils and should be considered when evaluating the completeness of existing data. Since there is not a single list of appropriate data for every soil, the assigned liaison from the Soil Survey Laboratory, and where applicable, the local university NCSS cooperator, should be consulted to evaluate the adequacy of the existing data, identify data needs, and develop plans to expand the data available for benchmark soils in the region.
       
   4. Other considerations. The set of benchmark soils for a MLRA should include representatives from the major parent materials and landforms in the area. For example, coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludalfs may be common on both extensive till plains and stream terraces in the MLRA. A single series from this family might not be adequate to represent these conditions if some key properties are significantly different between the two settings.
      
      Certain soils are especially important because of their use or ecological importance in the landscape. If these soils are essential to the understanding of landscape processes or ecological functions within the MLRA, or interpretations for unique land uses or land management practices, they may be designated as benchmark soils, even if they are not extensive. The number of soils meeting this criterion alone is small, perhaps two or three per MLRA.
       
2. General Guidance.
   
   Using the criteria discussed above, select the fewest number of soils required to adequately represent the soils in the MLRA. By considering extent, taxonomic placement, ecological significance, major parent materials and landforms, uniquely important soils, and existing data, an optimal benchmark soil list can be developed.
    

Maintaining a Record of Benchmark Soil Data Needs (630.03)

1. Maintenance.
   
   The benchmark status designation for soil series is recorded in the Soil Classification Database (SC). This database is managed by the assigned MO staffs. Soil surveys are dynamic; consequently the adequacy of the current benchmark soils status needs to be evaluated periodically as soil survey information is updated. While changes can be made at any time, keep in mind that if changes are made too frequently, the effectiveness in fulfilling the intended purpose of the benchmark soils may be diminished. The benchmark soils designation is recorded for soil series within MLRAs.
    
2. Access to Benchmark Soil List.
   
   Use the on-line Soil Series Classification (SC) or Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSD) data access search routines to access and sort benchmark soils. These files are on the soils Web site by selecting View OSD by Query at http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/osd/index.html or by selecting Create Report by Query at http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/scfile/index.html.
    
3. Development of a Comprehensive Report.
   
   Each MLRA soil survey office leader, in consultation with the technical team members, the MLRA Management Team, and NCSS cooperators as appropriate, develops a comprehensive report summarizing the kinds of data and information currently available and data needed to predict the behavior of soils in each major land resource area. This report compares existing data and information on benchmark soils with needs to determine the adequacy of information for the major land resource area. This comparison helps plan for studies of soil properties, qualities, and behavior.
    
4. Narrative Record of Each Benchmark Soil.
   
   Based on the comprehensive report, a narrative record of each benchmark soil is provided to state soil scientists for distribution. The record helps to facilitate long-range planning and to encourage cooperative ventures with research institutions. Discuss the kinds of special studies and soil properties needed. Include literature references of research studies on the benchmark soil. Refer to Exhibit 630-1 for an example of a narrative record.
    

Sample Narrative Record for Benchmark Soils (Exhibit 630-1)

BETA SERIES -- a member of the fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiustolls family. It dominantly occurs in the Rolling Soft Shale Plains, Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) 54, but it also extends into the Southern Dark Brown Glaciated Plains, MLRA 53C. The Beta series is about 105,000 acres in extent. Most areas of Beta soils are in privately managed grasslands used for grazing.

Beta soils are 100 to 150 centimeters deep to soft bedrock and formed in materials derived and weathered from sandstone, siltstone, and shale with a thin capping of glacial drift.

Other Series Represented: The Beta series is similar to the following series in MLRA 54.

Data can potentially be used as a surrogate for these similar soils, but care should be taken when extending data for one soil series to another to ensure that the extension of data is reasonable for the particular case under consideration. These series, along with the Beta series, collectively are about 225,000 acres in extent.

The Beta series was selected as a benchmark soil primarily because it is an important soil occupying upland positions that have been impacted by glaciation in this otherwise unglaciated area. In addition, these soils support some of the most productive grasslands in the area.

Information needs: In MLRA 54, knowledge of the properties, qualities, and behavior of the Beta soils is useful in understanding: (1) the effect of changes in cropping systems and management practices on dynamic soil properties, (2) the penetration of roots and the movement of water into the soft bedrock, (3) pesticide and nutrient fate and transport for surface water and groundwater assessment, (4) the use of soils with soft bedrock for septic tank absorption fields, (5) the Silty rangeland ecological site, and (6) the use of soils with soft bedrock for building site development. The bedrock underlying Beta soils contains deposits of strippable coal, and the knowledge of soil properties, qualities, and behavior is important for the development of effective soil reclamation measures.

Data needs: The following dynamic properties and morphological attributes are needed across the common crop management systems: saturated hydraulic conductivity, soil bulk density, organic carbon, surface roughness, consistence, structure, and macropore characteristics (geometry, frequency, distribution, and continuity). The purpose is to integrate the macropore characteristic with structure, particle-size distribution, and mineralogy in order to develop a pedotransfer function that predicts saturated hydraulic conductivity.

Laboratory data: NRCS NSSC Soil Characterization Database:

User Pedon ID
82STATEFIPS031005
84STATEFIPS021002
87STATEFIPS005001
91STATEFIPS007007
97STATEFIPS013011

ANYSTATE University pedon data
(List sources and contacts where information can be acquired)

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