Soil Layer Table (SLT)
Filename
soil_layer_REGION_v2
Description
The Soil Layer Table (SLT) contains information which varies in a vertical direction, for all soils in the NSDB. Data in this table is based upon real measurements where available, but the majority of values are estimates provided by experienced pedologists. The data in the SLT can be considered to represent modal information for each attribute in isolation. As such it is appropriate for mapping and land suitability interpretations. It should not be treated as real pedons for environmental modelling purposes because the recorded combination of measurements may never actually be present for any pedon in the field. Measurements for real pedons are stored in the Pedon database.
The latest version of the SLT is available here.
Contents
| Field | Name | Type | Width | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SOIL_ID | string | 11 | Soil Name Identifier |
| 2 | PROVINCE | string | 2 | Province Code |
| 3 | SOIL_CODE | string | 3 | Soil Code |
| 4 | MODIFIER | string | 5 | Soil Code Modifier |
| 5 | PROFILE | string | 1 | Type of soil profile |
| 6 | LAYER_NO | string | 1 | Layer Number |
| 7 | UDEPTH | integer | 3 | Upper Depth |
| 8 | LDEPTH | integer | 3 | Lower Depth |
| 9 | HZN_LIT | string | 1 | Horizon Lithological Discontinuity |
| 10 | HZN_MAS | string | 3 | Horizon Master Code |
| 11 | HZN_SUF | string | 7 | Horizon Suffix |
| 12 | HZN_MOD | string | 1 | Horizon Modifier |
| 13 | COFRAG | integer | 3 | Coarse Fragments |
| 14 | DOMSAND | string | 2 | Dominant Sand Fraction |
| 15 | VFSAND | integer | 3 | Very Fine Sand |
| 16 | TSAND | integer | 3 | Total Sand |
| 17 | TSILT | integer | 3 | Total Silt |
| 18 | TCLAY | integer | 3 | Total Clay |
| 19 | ORGCARB | decimal | 5 | Organic Carbon |
| 20 | PHCA | decimal | 4 | pH in calcium chloride |
| 21 | PH2 | decimal | 4 | pH as per project report |
| 22 | BASES | integer | 3 | Base Saturation |
| 23 | CEC | integer | 3 | Cation Exchange Capacity |
| 24 | KSAT | decimal | 7 | Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity |
| 25 | KP0 | integer | 3 | Water Retention at 0 kP |
| 26 | KP10 | integer | 3 | Water Retention at 10 kP |
| 27 | KP33 | integer | 3 | Water Retention at 33 kP |
| 28 | KP1500 | integer | 3 | Water Retention at 1500 kP |
| 29 | BD | decimal | 5 | Bulk Density |
| 30 | EC | integer | 3 | Electrical Conductivity |
| 31 | CACO3 | integer | 2 | Calcium Carbonate Equivalent |
| 32 | VONPOST | integer | 2 | Von Post |
| 33 | WOOD | integer | 2 | Woody Material |
Relationships
- A record in this file is unique with respect to SOIL_ID + LAYER_NO.
- This file can be linked to the CMP and SNT files via the SOIL_ID field.
Limitations
A comprehensive set of validation checks were run on the values found in this table to eliminate gross errors and ensure that the data are complete and internally consistent. These checks were not performed on records where the value of the KIND field in the SNT was U or N (Unclassified or Non soil). As a result, there may be inconsistencies in the amount and type of SLT data recorded for these soils. Some “non soil” components may have no SLT data, others may have records with “-9” in most fields, and some may have SLT records with attribute values that some interpretation programs can use. For example, bedrock may have no SLT records at all, or it may have just a single SLT layer, with HZN_MAS = “R “, TSAND, TSILT, TCLAY = “-9”, BD = 3.0 or -9, etc.