Soil Survey Manitoba

This dataset contains Manitoba Agriculture soil survey data at various scales ranging from highly detailed to broader reconnaissance level information.

Soil is essential to human survival. We rely on it for the production of food, fibre, timber and energy crops. Together with climate, the soil determines which crops can be grown, where and how much they will yield. In addition to supporting our agricultural needs, we rely on the soil to regulate the flow of rainwater and to act as a filter for drinking water. With such a tremendously important role, it is imperative that we manage our soils for their long-term productivity, sustainability and health. The first step in sustainable soil management is ensuring that the soil will support the land use activity. For example, only the better agricultural soils in Manitoba will support grain and vegetable production, while more marginal agricultural soils will support forage and pasture-based production. For this reason, agricultural development should only occur in areas where the soil resource will support the agricultural activity. The only way to do this is to understand the soil resource that is available. Soil survey information is the key to understanding the soil resource. Soil survey is an inventory of the properties of the soil (such as texture, internal drainage, parent material, depth to groundwater, topography, degree of erosion, stoniness, pH and salinity) and their spatial distribution over a landscape. Soils are grouped into similar types and their boundaries are delineated on a map. Each soil type has a unique set of physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics and has similar reactions to use and management. The information assembled in a soil survey can be used to predict or estimate the potentials and limitations of the soils’ behaviour under different uses. As such, soil surveys can be used to plan the development of new lands or to evaluate the conversion of land to new uses. Soil surveys also provide insight into the kind and intensity of land management that will be needed. The survey scale of soils data for Manitoba ranges from 1:5,000 to 1:126,720, as identified in the 'SCALE' column.1:5,000. The survey objective at this scale is to collect high precision field scale data and it is mostly used in research plots and other highly intensive areas. It is also applicable to agricultural production and planning such as precision farming, agriculture capability, engineering, recreation, potato/irrigation suitability and productivity indices. Profile descriptions and samples are collected for all soils. At least one soil inspection exists per delineation and the minimum size delineation is 0.25 acres. The soil taxonomy is generally Phases of Soil Series. The mapping scale is 1:5,000 or 12.7 in/ mile. This file also contains soils data that has been collected in Manitoba at a survey intensity level of the second order. This includes data collected at a scale of 1:20,000. The survey objective at this scale is to collect field scale data and it is mostly used in agricultural production and planning such as precision farming, agriculture capability, engineering, recreation, potato/irrigation suitability and productivity indices. Soil pits are generally about 200 metres apart and are dug along transects which are about 500 metres apart. This translates to about 32 inspections sites per section (640 acres). The soils in each delineation are identified by field observations and remotely sensed data. Boundaries are verified at closely spaced intervals. Profile descriptions are collected for all major named soils and 10 inspection sites/section and 2 to 3 horizons per site require lab analyses. At least one soil inspection exists in over 90% of delineations and the minimum size delineation is generally about 4 acres at 1:20,000. The soil taxonomy is generally Phases of Soil Series. The mapping scale is 1:20,000 or 3.2 inch/ mile. This file also contains data that has been collected at the third order. This includes scales of 1:40,000 and 1:50,000. The survey objective at this scale is to collect field scale or regional data. If the topography is relatively uniform, appropriate interpretations include agriculture capability, engineering, recreation, potato/irrigation suitability and productivity indices. Soil pits are generally dug adjacent to section perimeters. This translates to about 16 inspection sites per section (640 acres). Soil boundaries are plotted by observation and remote sensed data. Profile descriptions exist for all major named soils and 2 inspection sites/section and 2 to 3 horizons per site require lab analyses. At least one soil inspection exists in 60-80% of delineations and the minimum size delineation is generally in the 10 to 20 acre range. The soil taxonomy is generally Series or Phases of Soil Series. The mapping scale is 1:40,000 or 2 inch/ mile; 1:50,000 or 1.5 inch/mile. This file also contains soils data that has been collected at a survey intensity level of the fourth order. This includes scales of 1:63,360, 1:100,000, 1:125,000, and 1:126,720. The survey objective is to collect provincial data and to provide general soil information about land management and land use. The number of soil pits dug averaged to about 6 inspections per section (640 acres). Soil boundaries are plotted by interpretation of remotely sensed data and few inspections exist. Profile descriptions are collected for all major named soils. At least one soil inspection exists in 30-60% of delineations and the minimum size delineation is 40 acres (1:63,360), 100 acres (1:100,000), 156 acres (126,700) and 623 acres (250,000). The soil taxonomy is generally phases of Subgroup or Association. As of 2022, soil survey field work and reports are still currently being collected in certain areas where detailed information does not exist. This file will be updated as more information becomes available. Typically, this is conducted on an rural municipality basis. In some areas of Manitoba, more detailed and historical information exists than what is contained in this file. However, at this time, some of this information is only available in a hard copy format. This file will be updated as more of this information is transferred into a GIS format. This file has an organizational framework similar to the original SoilAID digital files and a portion of this geographic extent was originally available on the Manitoba Land Initiative (MLI) website. Domains and coded values have also been integrated into the geodatabase files. This allows the user to view attribute information in either an abbreviated or a more descriptive manner. Choosing to display the description of the coded values allows the user to view the expanded information associated with the attribute value (reducing the need to constantly refer to the descriptions within the metadata). To change these settings in ArcCatalog, go to Customize --> ArcCatalog Options --> Tables tab --> check or uncheck 'Display coded value domain and subtype descriptions'. To change these settings in ArcMap, go to Customize --> ArcMapOptions --> Tables tab --> check or uncheck 'Display coded value domain and subtype descriptions'. This setting can also be changed by opening the attribute table, then Table Options (top left) --> Appearance --> check or uncheck 'Display coded value domain and subtype descriptions'. The file also contains field aliases, which can also be turned on or off under Table Options. The file - "Manitoba Municipal Boundaries" - from Manitoba Community Planning Services was used as one of the base administrative references for the soil polygon layer. Also used as references were the hydrological features mapped in the 1:20,000 and 1:50,000 NTS topographical layers (National Topographic System of Canada). Typically this would relate to larger hydrological features such as those designated as perennial lakes and perennial rivers. This same capability is available in ArcGIS Pro. For more info: https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/soil/soil-survey/importance-of-soil-survey-mb.html#