# Technical References for Soils

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Links to documents guiding soil science.

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National Soil Survey Handbook 
The National Soil Survey Handbook (NSSH) provides the standards, guidelines, definitions, policy, responsibilities, and procedures for conducting the NRCS portion of the National Cooperative Soil Survey program.

Soil Survey Manual
The Soil Survey Manual (USDA, Agriculture Handbook No. 18) provides the major principles and practices needed for making and using soil surveys and for assembling and using related data. 

Technical Soil Services Handbook
The Technical Soil Services Handbook provides authority, responsibilities, definitions, guidance, and procedures for technical soil services within NRCS.

Dynamic Soil Properties Guide
This guide is designed for soil survey, vegetation, and ecological site or unit inventory work to help soil scientists and other inventory specialists collect interpretable data about dynamic soil properties within the human ...

National Ecological Site Handbook
This handbook provides standards, guidelines, definitions, policies, responsibilities, and procedures for conducting the collaborative process of ecological site description (ESD) development.

Soil Taxonomy
The second edition of Soil Taxonomy, A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys is the result of the collective experience and contributions of thousands of pedologists from around the worl...

Keys to Soil Taxonomy
Taxonomic keys for field classification.

Major Land Resource Area (MLRA)
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) including the publication Land Resource Regions and Major Land Resource Areas of the United States, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Basin (USDA Agriculture Handbook 296, 2022).

Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils
Standards for observing and recording soil and site characteristics.

Field Indicators of Hydric Soils
A Guide for Identifying and Delineating Hydric Soils, Version 8.2

KSSL Guidance
Documents that guide the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory including field guides, methods and manuals, soil sample submission, and requests for assistance.

Geomorphic Description System
This document provides a descriptive method and a technical guide for applying and understanding geomorphic and geologic concepts and terms for soil inventory.

Soil Technical Notes
Specific technical subjects for soil scientists.

##   Other Reference

National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (NCCPI) 3.0 User Guide(9.49 MB)

##   Contact Soils

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