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Pacific Islands Soils Laboratory Data

Appendix 1. Map of soil sample locations and laboratory numbers. A large-scale version of this map is at the NRCS-Hawaii web site at Big Island Soil Index Map

 Appendix 2.

Directions for accessing lab data on the Internet.

  1. Access the Nation Soil Survey Laboratory Database on the Internet at http://soils.usda.gov/soil_survey/nscd/main.htm
  2. Select "Set Display Format".
  3. Select "Characterization" for soil physical and chemical properties, then "submit query".
  4. Click on "click here to return to beginning" to return to menu.
  5. Select "Data Acquisition Method".
  6. Select "Soil Survey Sample Number" .
  7. For a sample number such as S94HI-001-005 taken from the map, enter s for "Knd", 94 for "Yr", hi for "State", 001 for "Cnty", and 005 for "Unit". Select "submit query" to view data.

Caution: Data sheets on the Internet are uncorrected for errors and updates. After being posted on the Internet the following things may have changed: the soil series name; horizon identification. In general, particle size data are inaccurate for almost all Hawaii soils because of poor dispersion. Methods codes are not listed on the web site. 15-bar water content is determined on air-dry (4B2a) and moist (4B2b) samples. Clay content can be estimated by subtracting the organic carbon percent from the 15-bar water percent (on moist samples) then multiplying by 2.5. Organic carbon analyses via Walkley-Black method are no longer run; total carbon by dry combustion is reported.

Printing Lab Data

Because the lab data are presented as white font on a blue background, if you try to print directly from the Internet your printer will print the white font (or no color) on your white paper. Follow these instructions for copying data from the National Soil Survey Lab web site to a Microsoft Word document then print it:

  1. Load the lab data sheet of your choice.
  2. Select "Edit" then "select all".
  3. Select "Edit" then "copy".
  4. Open MS Word and open a new document.
  5. Select "Edit" then "paste".
  6. Select "Edit" then "select all".
  7. Select "Format" then "Font", "select font type – Courier New", "font style – regular", "select font size – 8", then "OK".
  8. Select "File", "page setup", "paper size – letter", "orientation - landscape", then "OK".
  9. At this point you can adjust the margins.
  10. You may need to add and/or delete lines to get each tier of data on a single page.
  11. Print page and save as MS Word file.  

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