Organic Matter Content of Cultivated Soils in Alberta

A geospatial map shows the percentage of soil organic matter in the surface layer of cultivated soils across Alberta's agricultural region. The data is classified into five categories from 'very low' to 'very high'. This resource was created by the Government of Alberta in 2002 using ArcGIS.

Use Cases

• Classify soil health zones using the organic matter percentage classes (e.g., less than 2, 2 to 4).
• Analyze spatial patterns of soil organic carbon for regional agricultural planning.
• Correlate soil organic matter levels with land use or crop yield data from other sources.
• Establish a baseline for soil quality monitoring by comparing the 2002 map to newer surveys.

Strengths

• Data is classified into five distinct organic matter percentage classes for clear interpretation.
• Covers the entire agricultural region of Alberta, providing a complete regional picture.

Limitations

• The underlying data is from 2002 and may not reflect current soil conditions.
• Specific row/column counts and sample sizes are not provided.

Provenance

Source

Government of Alberta

Collection Method

Created using ArcGIS, likely from soil survey data.

Time Range

2002

Freshness

The resource was created in 2002; the platform record was updated in March 2026.

Geography

Agricultural region of Alberta, Canada.