Geospatial Laboratory for Soil Informatics
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Soil Intelligence

Close-up of young green crop seedlings emerging from soil in a field row.

Soil information is essential for addressing critical agricultural, economic, ecological, and environmental challenges. Our work advances these efforts by integrating geospatial technologies, data analytics, and soil science. 

Soil Survey in Iowa

The Iowa Soil Survey documents the state’s diverse soils through detailed mapping and classification efforts. It provides data on soil properties, formation, and distribution to support research, land management, and conservation. This resource is vital for understanding Iowa’s agricultural potential and guiding sustainable land use practices.

Corn Suitability Ratings & Soil Interpretations

CSR2 (Corn Suitability Rating 2) measures a soil’s potential for corn production, with 100 being ideal and 5 being poor. It’s based on six soil factors and calculated per map unit using data from the Iowa Cooperative Soil Survey. There are two versions: CSR2-ISU, which assumes the dominant soil series, and CSR2-NRCS, which averages all included soils. Values are usually similar, but differences arise when map units contain many soil inclusions, steep slopes, or inconsistent data.

GLSI Soil Data Resources

Soilscapes Interactive Maps

Soilscape is an interactive web tool developed by Iowa State University and Michigan State University that allows users to explore soil data across Iowa, the Corn Belt, and the U.S. national level. Users can select specific geographies and view map layers such as soil suitability (e.g., CSR2), elevation, and infrastructure. It’s designed to help researchers, educators, and land managers visualize and analyze spatial soil information easily.

Soilscape tutorial video popup showing how to select a geography for viewing soil data layers

Soilscapes Interactive Maps

The Soil Profile Library offers a visual collection of soil profiles from diverse landscapes across Iowa. Each profile reveals unique characteristics—such as color, texture, and structure—that reflect differences in soil formation, classification, and land use potential. This resource supports education, research, and land management by helping users compare and interpret soil features across locations.

Explore the library to better understand the role of soil in agriculture, conservation, and environmental sustainability.

Screenshot of the Soil Profile Library webpage showing a grid of soil profile images with descriptions

GIS Data Library

The GIS Data Library provides access to spatial datasets developed or compiled by the Geospatial Laboratory for Soil Informatics (GLSI). These data layers support mapping and analysis of soil properties, land use, topography, and environmental variables. The library includes raster and vector data commonly used in digital soil mapping, geospatial modeling, and landscape analysis, offering a valuable resource for spatial research and applied land management.

Screenshot of the GIS Data Library webpage with category buttons and sample physiographic maps

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