Agricultural Land Classification: Detailed Site Surveys with Soil Data, 1989-1999

Post-1988 Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food includes scanned original paper maps and reports for individual sites. Surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999 use the grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines, with Grade 3 subdivided into 3a and 3b. Some surveys also contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions.

Use Cases

• Classify agricultural land capability based on the official grading methodology described in the survey reports.
• Analyze soil characteristics and variability using the unedited sample point soils data and pit descriptions.
• Map land quality at varying scales (from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000) for regional planning and development assessments.
• Compare historical land classification (1989-1999) with contemporary data to study changes in agricultural potential.

Strengths

• Data is based on detailed site surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, an authoritative source.
• Includes the subdivision of Grade 3 land into subgrades 3a and 3b, providing finer granularity.
• Some surveys contain unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions, offering raw observational details.

Limitations

• Row count, column names, and file formats are unknown, which limits suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Data consists of scanned original paper maps and reports, which may require digitization or interpretation for modern GIS use.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), via Natural England and the Government Digital Service.

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys involving soil analysis and mapping, following the official Agricultural Land Classification methodology.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

null

Geography

Individual sites in England and Wales, specifically the Pebsham (Rother LP Site Lr3) area mentioned.