August 2006

Manitoba Soil Resource Information Helping you make the best farm and land use decisions

There are two basic kinds of surveys:

1. the detailed survey, which is based on a large number of observations of soils in an area,
2. the reconnaissance survey, based on fewer observations. Soils are sampled throughout the area and the samples are analysed for chemical and physical properties. These are described and interpreted as to their suitability for agriculture and other uses.

Soil maps are based on field observations, backed up by aerial photography. Detailed soil maps are commonly at scales of 1:20,000, 1:40,000 or 1:50,000 while reconnaissance maps are at scales of 1:100,000, 1:125,000 or 1:126,720. Soils are arranged into types on the basis of properties such as parent material, drainage, texture, slope and salinity.

As well as containing technical information about the chemical and physical properties of soil, reports and maps also include a non-technical section dealing with management practices that may be useful to the farmer. More recently, soil survey data have been broadened to include soil requirements for a variety of crops, plus suitability for irrigation and infrastructure development such as roads, septic fields, buildings and recreation uses. Soil survey data can be used to appraise land quality, as a basis for farm loans and a guide for the purchase of land. It can also provide a key layer of information, integral to the development of precision farming management practices.

Soil survey maps and reports are available for nearly all agricultural areas in southern Manitoba.

For more information contact:
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Soil Resource Section
Room 346, Ellis Building
Univesity of Manitoba
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone:  (204) 474-6112
Fax: (204) 474-7643

Reconnaissance Soil Survey Reports
How to Order

Reconnaissance Soil Survey reports provide a systematic inventory of Manitoba's soil resource at a scale of 1:100 000, 1:126 720 and 1:125 000. A report consists of a coloured map which indicates the distribution and area of soil map units and a report which provides a general description of the surveyed area, physical features, factors affecting soil development and an evaluation of the soil's agricultural, engineering and urban uses.

1 Map area with R18, Swan Lake.
2 Map/data available.
3 Report/Map available.
2 and 3 available through: 

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Soil Resource Section
Room 346, Ellis Building
Univesity of Manitoba
Winnipeg Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone:  (204) 474-6112
Fax: (204) 474-7643

Reconnaisance Soil Survey Reports are available from:

Statutory Publications
200 Vaughan Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1T5    
Phone: (204) 945-3101
or your local Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives office

Detail Soil Reports
How to Order

Detail Soil Reports (1:20 000, 1:40 000, 1:50 000) provide detailed and comprehensive soil resource information to supplement and expand on information contained in the Reconnaissance soil survey reports. As well as basic soil information, a variety of derived and interpretive maps can be generated including Soil Suitability for Agriculture, Soil Suitability for Irrigation, Drainage, Salinity, Potential Impact of Irrigation.

1 Soil reports and maps or data available from:

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Soil Resource Section
Room 346 Ellis Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
Phone:  (204) 474-6112
Fax:  (204) 474-7643

2 Projects are not shown on map index.

Detail Soil Survey Reports are available from:
Statutory Publications
200 Vaughan Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 1T5
Phone: (204) 945-3101
or
Agricultural Representative Offices and
Regional Offices of Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Biophysical Reports
How to Order

A system of inventory known as a "biophysical land classification" was used to describe various land attributes such as a soil, surficial deposits, landforms, permafrost and water in northern and eastern Manitoba. Interpretation of this basic information for environmental sensitivity, capability for wildlife, forestry, recreation etc. is possible by relating it to more dynamic features such as vegetation and wildlife populations within an overall climatic framework.

This information, in guide and map form, is available through:

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Soil Resource Section
Room 348 Ellis Building,
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-6112
Fax: (204) 474-7643

Special Soil Resource Products
How to order

Specific Manitoba soil resource products are available at different scales and levels of detail.

A generalized Soil Landscape Map provides an overview of major soils for all of Manitoba at a scale of 1:1 000 000. This Soil Landscape Map has been used to derive a series of maps depicting soil degredatation by wind, water and salinization. Also, publications describing minor element content of surface soils, engineering equivalents of the soils and the soil component of the ecological framework have been based on the Soil Landscape Map.

Several intensive soil surveys (1:5 000) have been carried out on smaller sites with the purpose of describing the soil conditions in sufficient detail to assist in planning and managing the soil resources in support of specific research purposes.

This information is available through:

Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Soil Resource Section
Room 346, Ellis Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2
Phone:  (204) 474 6112
Fax: (204) 474-7643