Handbook of soil survey investigations field procedures

This handbook is a guide to the study of soils in the field. It suggests ways of looking at the soil and its setting that help approach a better understanding of the relationships among soils and how they should be mapped and classified. The study includes observations on the site, gross and detailed morphology, and the mineralogical, chemical, and physical observations and tests that can be done in the field. By studying the whole soil in its natural setting and always considering the relations between the observable characteristics and properties, we can usually solve many of the problems of classification, genesis, and use interpretations in the field. Sometimes, however, there are questions that cannot be answered entirely in the field or problems appear whose solution would have broad fundamental applications. Then laboratory assistance is needed and samples are collected.