Using Web Soil Survey to Estimate Site Biomass and Composition
The purpose of this activity is for students to learn how to use an interactive soil map application
online to find the soil type for a study site and learn how to estimate rangeland biomass
production using soil guide resources.
Goal:
Students will:
• Learn how to use an interactive soil map application online and navigate to find
information about a local soil type
• Learn how to find out the rangeland productivity of a particular soil type.
Materials:
• Handout: “Using Web Soil Survey”
• Computer with Internet Access
• A specific site that was previously examined in the field
Procedures:
1. Take a field trip to a rangeland site to visually examine the vegetation and soils (i.e.
Rangeland Site Description activity or Estimating Rangeland and Pastureland Biomass
activity). Students will record site description information to use with this activity
2. Have students work as individuals or in teams of 2 (depending on availability of
computers with internet access).
3. Students will follow instructions in handout to determine rangeland productivity of the
site examined in the field
Variations
• Compare results from web soil survey with composition of grasses, grass-like plants,
forbs and woody plants calculated in field examinations. (For example, examinations
with the “Estimating Rangeland and Pastureland Biomass” activity)
• Apply estimates obtained from web soil survey to estimate appropriate stocking rate for a
given pasture
• Have students research information about the ecological site associated with the soil type
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