Soils and Land Use
Soil is a mixture of mineral and organic material at the surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for growing plants.
The five factors that control the formation of soils are:
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Climate
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Organisms
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Topography
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Parent Material
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Time
The Soils and Land Use section of the contest will be broken up into several categories, including soil properties, soil biology, landforms and parent material, soil maps, and interpretations. A soil profile will be excavated and available for students to describe horizons, texture, structure, permeability, depth to water table, color, and other features.
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Current Year Resources
2025 Soil and Land Use Learning Objectives and Resources
​2025 Soil Prep Materials​​
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Past Resources
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​Soil Guide
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Forestry Resource Team
Nicole Ellis, NRCS Soil Scientist
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Josh Gaimaro, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS
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Peter Whitcomb, USDA-NRCS, retired
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Lucy Zendzian, USDA-NRCS
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Maddy Czymmek, Forest Service
