Field Guides
Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils — standards for observing and recording soil and site characteristics.
Field Indicators of Hydric Soils, version 8.1, 2017 (PDF; 16.6 MB)
Soil Survey Office Laboratory References
Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual (SSIR 51), version 2.0 (1-31-14; PDF; 10.3 MB)
Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual (SSIR 51), version 1.0, obsolete. (11-2-09; PDF; 8.8 MB)
Soil Survey Office Laboratory Safety Guide, version 2.0 (8-29-16; PDF; 229 KB)
Laboratory Methods and Information
Lab Methods Manual (SSIR 42) - soil laboratory methodology and reference for the laboratory analyst.
Soil Survey Laboratory Information Manual (SSIR 45) - Companion reference to the Laboratory Methods Manual, SSIR No. 42. Sampling methodology, descriptions of KSSL data sheets, and other information to help users of lab data.
A Routine Laboratory Method to Determine Phosphorus Availability, Capacity, and Release Characteristics for Soils (SSIR 55) (PDF; 1.1 MB)
Testing Methods for Phosphorus and Organic Matter
Soil Sample Submission Protocol for the KSSL (11-29-16; PDF; 1.61 MB) - Documentation and worksheets (below) necessary for KSSL sample submission.
