Detailed soil survey

Some local planning bodies require a detailed soil survey and IDMP (irrigation and Drainage Management Plan) be undertaken prior to development.

A detailed soil survey is conducted at a grid spacing of 75m x 75m with sites located using GPS or Total Workstation and pits dug using a backhoe (approximately 75 holes over 100 acres).

A detailed soil survey will enable us to advise on irrigation management units based on main soil types and water holding capacities, which can be used in irrigation design.

A plan set incorporates a soil profile description plan, readily available water plan, depth of topsoil plan, contour plan and the irrigation management units’ plan.

A report will analyse the data in relation to crop suitability, water requirements, soil amelioration requirements and irrigation design and management options.

Reconnaissance (Grid) soil survey

A reconnaissance soil survey may be used to determine which areas of a large property may be suitable to proceed planting in.

A grid style reconnaissance soil survey may be undertaken on a wide grid (150m x150m) with sites located with the GPS unit or Total Workstation.

A report and plan set is produced to indicate crop suitability on the property and the most suitable areas. This survey gives broad recommendations as to irrigation layout to account for variability across the property.
The pits used at the wider grid spacing can be reused to form the basedata and plan set for the detailed soil survey with the detailed soil survey offset to pick up the sites missed at the wider grid.

 

Reconnaissance (Freestyle) soil survey

This survey is generally used as a cheaper method of gaining some soil information about a property prior to purchase or to assess overall suitability to proceed with a crop development.

Sites are usually indicated on a survey plan, topographic plan or aerial photograph provided by the client and located according to variations in topography and surface morphology and known problem areas.

The sites are approximate in their location from boundaries and markers etc. and are not generally picked up with the GPS or Total Workstation although they can be if this is required.

A report is produced including a soil survey site location plan.

Not usually produced with a reconnaissance soil survey, a plan set is highly recommended as it can be used in irrigation design, and therefore avoid costly design mistakes, as well as for an ongoing management tool.

The cost of a detailed soil survey is obviously greater than a reconnaissance, however the value of the information gleaned about your property far outweighs the cost.