Potential use, management and productivity of Loudon County soils

There is consensus of opinion among soil scientists that soil survey interpretations are inadequate for efficient farm planning. Seldom are farmers provided with predictions regarding the behavior of their soils under defined systems of use and management. Since interpretations are an important part of soil survey, they should be comprehensive enough to contemplate several alternative uses and combinations of management practices for a given soil. They should be specific, yet flexible enough to permit substitution among cropping systems, management level and practices. With such guides farmers would be able to work out cropping programs and management systems suited to their soils.

There is a great need for technical soil management guides for every county or state. Guides based upon soil survey reports can take cognizance of natural limitations such as steep slopes, erodibility, shallow depth, stoniness, overflow hazards and salinity which affect the potential use, management, and productivity of the soils. They can make specific suggestions of a temporary nature as to crop adaptations, alternative cropping systems and fertilizer programs that are applicable to a given soil and which may bring about improvements in productivity and conservation. Such guides will help farmers to understand better the particular capabilities of their soils and to adopt with greater confidence those practices that conserve and keep their soils productive.

The primary objective of soil management is to obtain the highest production commensurate with land, labor and capital invested. Soil productivity in the modern sense connotes the soils response to management practices.

The objective of the present study is to outline in simple terms a soil management guide for some of the soils of Loudon county. Crop adaptation and expected yields are considered along with a description of each soil. With long time productivity, or conservation in mind, the alternative cropping systems for each of several combinations of management level and practices may be suggested. From these the farmer may choose the one best suited to his situation.