National Soil Characterization Data for United States and Territories

The National Cooperative Soil Survey database contains laboratory data for over 65,000 locations in the United States and its territories, with about 2,100 additional international sites. It includes physical, chemical, biological, mineralogical, morphological, and mid-infrared reflectance soil measurements collected over the last 40 years. Data were compiled by the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory and cooperating labs under the National Soil Survey Center.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial trends in soil chemical properties like gypsum or carbonate content across the United States.
• Train models to predict soil physical characteristics using mid-infrared reflectance (MIR) spectroscopy data from 7,000 locations.
• Study soil horizon depth profiles using standard morphological descriptions available for about 60,000 locations.
• Investigate long-term changes in soil mineralogical composition using data spanning from before 1960 to 2021.

Strengths

• Extensive coverage with data from over 65,000 specific locations in the U.S. and territories.
• Long temporal coverage, with data obtained over the last 40 years and specific counts for periods like 27,000 locations from 1990-2010.
• Includes multiple measurement types such as MIR spectroscopy for about 7,000 locations and morphological descriptions for about 60,000 locations.

Limitations

• Data completeness varies; not all analyses were conducted for each location and depth, and soil fertility measurements were not made.
• Some measurements, like particle-size distribution, have known methodological limitations in specific soil types (e.g., volcanic-derived soils).
• The database retains data with known precision issues, such as measurements of very high or low quantities, for research purposes.

Provenance

Source

National Soil Survey Center (NSSC), Department of Agriculture.

Collection Method

Compilation of laboratory data from the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory and several cooperating laboratories.

Time Range

Most data from the last 40 years, with specific periods: ~4,000 pre-1960, 25,000 (1960-1990), 27,000 (1990-2010), 13,000 (2010-2021).

Freshness

Data includes records up to 2021, with a platform update noted in February 2026.

Geography

Primarily the United States and its Territories, with about 2,100 locations from other countries.