Agricultural Land Classification Survey for Otham, England (1989-1999)

England and Wales agricultural land classification data for the Otham site surveyed between 1989 and 1999 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The dataset includes scanned original paper maps, survey reports, and for some surveys, unedited sample point soils data and soil pit descriptions. It is provided by Natural England and contains Ordnance Survey data.

Use Cases

• Classify land capability for agriculture based on detailed soil survey methodology.
• Analyze historical land quality trends based on survey data from a specific time period.
• Map agricultural land grades, including subgrades 3a and 3b, based on original survey maps.
• Correlate soil pit descriptions with broader land classification for site-specific analysis.

Strengths

• Uses the established grading methodology from the 'Agricultural Land Classification of England and Wales' guidelines.
• Includes subdivision of Grade 3 into subgrades 3a and 3b for more granular analysis.
• Contains original survey materials like scanned maps and reports, preserving methodological detail.

Limitations

• Row count, file formats, and column-level documentation are unknown, limiting suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; data is historical (1989-1999) and freshness is unverified.
• Mapping scales vary from 1:5,000 to 1:50,000, which may affect spatial consistency across sites.

Provenance

Source

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (survey), Natural England and Ordnance Survey (data provision).

Collection Method

Detailed site surveys following the Agricultural Land Classification methodology, with results recorded on paper maps and in reports.

Time Range

1989 to 1999

Freshness

Historical data from surveys conducted between 1989 and 1999; last update unknown.

Geography

Otham, Church Road (Maidstone LP Site 31), England and Wales