Conservation Surveys

This system had to be tailored to fit the land. In order to determine the kinds of land involved, conservation surveys were developed to evaluate the degree and extent of erosion, the capability of land for permanent production, and the conservation practices required on problem catchments. As scientific an evaluation as possible was made of the soil characteristics, erosiveness, slope, climate, geology, natural vegetation, and past management, and from such an inventory it became possible to classify the land into eight standard classes. These classes, four of which are suitable for cultivation, and four are not, provide a reliable index to the capacity of the land for permanent production.