Agricultural Land Classification Survey Maps and Reports, 1989-1999

Post 1988 Agricultural Land Classification site survey data includes scanned original paper maps and survey reports for individual sites in England and Wales. Surveys were conducted between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, using a grading methodology that subdivides Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b. Unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions are also available for some surveys.

Use Cases

• Analyze historical agricultural land quality based on detailed soil grading methodology.
• Map land suitability for farming based on scanned survey maps at scales from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000.
• Study soil characteristics using unedited sample point data and soil pit descriptions.
• Compare land classification grades, including the subdivision of Grade 3 into 3a and 3b.

Strengths

• Survey data covers a defined decade, from 1989 to 1999.
• Maps include detailed subdivisions of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b.
• Original survey methodology is documented and referenced.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data may reflect geographic bias inherent to the surveyed sites in England and Wales.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.

Time Range

1989-1999

Geography

Individual sites in England and Wales, specifically Great Totham, Nr Maldon.