Like spies, every soil has a special code name and code number--sort of.
To keep all of the different soils straight, scientists give them different numbers and names. They give soils names such as “Drummer silt clay loam” or “Ipava silt loam” because calling them “Joe” or “Larry” just doesn’t work.
Soil scientists list the numbers on a soil map. A soil map also shows you where the different soils are located.
You may not know it, but scientists have probably mapped the soils in your own neighborhood.
A soil map shows photos of land taken from the sky--like this one. The numbers on the map are different types of soil.
A soil scientist makes a map of soils in Virginia.
Photo: USDA NRCS