Soil Survey

Sustainable soil management begins with a thorough understanding of the soil resources available, the type of activity they can support and the intensity of management required. Soil surveys are the basis for these important insights and decisions.

Use the links below to view Manitoba soil survey maps, and to learn more about using this information to plan land development.

The Soil Landscapes page links you to detailed information about the distribution of Manitoba soil types. The Interpretive Maps page provides access to special reports and maps, and explains ratings and classes for productivity and suitability.

Manitoba soil survey reports

• Reconnaissance Soil Survey in Manitoba
• Biophysical Land Classification Reports
• Detailed Soil Survey Maps and Reports
• The Description of Soil Series in Manitoba (PDF 1.33 MB)
  

Importance of soil surveys

• Introduction
• History and Use of Soil Surveys in Manitoba
• What are Soil Survey Reports? (Soil Management Guide)
  

Using reports

• How to Use a Soil Survey Report (Soil Management Guide)
• Why is Map Scale Important? (Soil Management Guide)
• What are the Limitations and Issues of a Map?
  

Procedures

• The Organization of a Detailed Soil Survey
• Manitoba Soil Survey Field Procedures Manual  (PDF 2.17 MB)
• Manitoba Soil Survey Laboratory Procedures Manual (PDF 421 KB)
• Why are Detailed Soil Survey Reports Required for In-Field Assessments? (Soil Management Guide)

• Options for data collection when detailed soil survey information is unavailable (Soil Management Guide)
• The Geospatial Environment 

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Other Resources

Soil Testing

• Test Your Soil
• Soil Testing in Manitoba
• Soil Testing: A Basis for Making Fertilizer Recommendations or Just a Balancing Act?
  

 Manitoba Soil Science Society Presentations

• Valuable Soil Survey Data for Managing Soil Resource in RM of Ritchot (Yi Zhang) (PDF 2.8 MB)
• Origin and Development of Soils in South-Western Manitoba (Ronggui Wu) (PDF 5 MB)
• Detailed Soil Survey RM of Blanshard (Sheila Meyer) (PDF 3.2 MB)
• Detailed Soil Survey for the RM of De Salaberry and its Application in Land Use Planning (Megan Westphal & Michelle Erb) (PDF 4.2 MB)
• 2020 MSSS Soil Safari and Mounting the Trophies as Monoliths (Megan Westphal) (PDF 1.6 MB)
  

 Other useful links

• Soil Management Guide
• Environmental Assessment and Licensing
• Canadian Soil Information System - CanSIS (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Soil Landscapes of Canada (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
• Earth Sciences and Mapping (Natural Resources Canada)
• World Soils (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
   

For more information, contact your local Manitoba Agriculture Office.