Principal Soil Associations and Major Soil Areas in Iowa
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Author: Bradley Miller
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This map delineates the 22 principal soil association areas (letter abbreviations) and the 12 Major Soil Areas (MSAs) of Iowa, based on regional soil-forming factors such as parent material, topography, and landscape development. These groupings reflect common soil series with similar properties and landscape positions, making them valuable for regional-scale land use planning, soil survey interpretation, and agricultural assessment.
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Source:
Produced by the Geospatial Laboratory for Soil Informatics (GLSI) at Iowa State University. ISPAID 7.3 – Iowa Soil Properties and Interpretations Database (Fenton et al., 1971)
Interpretation:
Each region includes dominant soil series that formed under similar environmental conditions and share common features such as parent material and slope. This classification provides a framework for interpreting soil behavior, productivity, and management responses at the regional scale.
Resolution:
Vector-based delineation of soil regions overlaid on county boundaries; displayed as a statewide static image
Suggested Use:
Ideal for landscape-level soil management, conservation planning, education, and as a reference for organizing fieldwork, research, or statewide soil assessments. Helps relate map-based data with soil taxonomy and formation processes.
References:
Fenton, T.E., et al. 1971.
Iowa Soil Properties and Interpretations Database (ISPAID) Version 7.3.