Soil surveys in Malaysia Lecture 22-24
Map of Southeast Asia
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING A. Physiography
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING B. Physiography
ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING C. Physiography
WHAT IS SOIL SURVEY
What Is A Soil Survey? Field investigation of specific area Supporting data e.g. climate, geology etc. Kinds of soils identified and delineated Extent of different soil types shown in a map Interpretations predict behaviours of soils Land-use / Soil Suitability Maps Management Groups Kinds of Soil Surveys Basic or general purpose surveys Special purpose surveys
SCALES OF SOIL SURVEYS IN MALAYSIA
SOIL SURVEY There are 3 scales of soil survey in Malaysia Reconnaissance Survey Semi Detail Survey Detail Soil Survey The scales used are different in Pen. Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak
RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY To determine soil distribution in a large area Sample collected at every 3-5 km X 500 m Each sampling point represent 150-250 ha Mapping Scale 1:100,000-1:500,000 Mapping Unit : Soil Association Used to determine soil potential, more detail survey required
SEMI DETAILED SURVEY To determine soil distribution in a large area Sample collected at every 200m X 800m Each sampling point represents 16 ha Mapping Scale 1: 25,000 Mapping Unit : Soil series and Phase Use to determine soil : Soil suitability, soil fertility, technology transfer
DETAILED SURVEY To determine soil distribution in a large area Sample collected at every 200m X 200m Each sampling point represent 4ha Mapping Scale 1: 5,000 1 : 10,000 Mapping Unit : Soil series, Phase Used to determine Soil- Crop suitability and soil management
Scales of Soil Surveys Past Surveys in Malaysia Scale Region Spacing Area Scale of Scale of Mapping Source Example of between Covered by base map published unit of Survey examination each point for field work soil map Information Reconnaissance Sabah 3 km x 3 km 900 ha 1:50,000 1:250,000 Association/ Boaklan and Acres et al. family Singh (1989) (1975) Sarawak 2 km x 100 m 200 ha 1:50,000 1:100,000 Association Lim (1980) Andriesse 1:50,000 Andriesse (1972) (1972) Peninsula 3 5 km x 400 m 120-200 ha 1:63,360 1:500,000 Association Paramananthan Panton 1:25,000 1:253,440 (1980) (1957) Semi-detailed Sabah 800 m x 800 m 64 ha 1:10,000 1:10,000 Family/ Boaklan and Thomas 1:25,000 1:25,000 Association Singh (1980) (1967) Sarawak 300 m x 100 m 3 ha 1:10,000 1:10,000 Series/ Lim (1980) 1:25,000 Phase/Complex Andriesse (1972) Peninsula 800 m x 200 m 16 ha 1:2,500 1:25,000 Series/ Paramananthan Soo 1:25,000 1:63,360 Association (1980) (1968) Detailed Sabah 150 m x 30 m 0.45 ha 1:5,000 1:5,000 Series/Phase Boaklan and Singh (1980) Sarawak 30 m x 100 m 0.3 ha 1:3,000 1:3,000 Series/Phase Andriesse Scott and 1:4,000 1:4,000 (1972) Barley (1964) Peninsula 200 m x 200 m 4 ha 1:5,000 1:5,000 Series/Phase Paramananthan (free traveling) 1:10,000 1:10,000 (1980)
Scales of Soil Surveys Standard Scales for Malaysia Scale Spacing between Area covered Scale of Scale of Mapping of examination by each base map for published unit survey points examination field work map Reconnaissance* 4 km x 500 m 200 ha 1:50,000 1:50,000 Association 1:63,360 1:100,000 Association 1:250,000 Association Detailed 2 km x 200 m 40 ha 1:50,000 1:50,000 Series Reconnaissance* Semi-detailed 800 m x 200 m 16 ha 1:25,000 1:50,000 Series/Phase a) Tree Crops 1 km x 200 m 20 ha 1:12,500 1:25,000 /Complex b) Rice/Cash Crops 500 m x 200 m 10 ha 1:10,000 1:20,000 Series/ (Alluvial Soils) 1:12,500 1:25,000 Complex Detailed a) Tree Crops 200 m x 200 m 4 ha 1:10,000 1:10,000 Series/Phase (free traversing) b) Rice/Cash Crops 100 m x 100 m 1 ha 1:5,000 1:5,000 Series/Phase (free traversing) * Not important anymore
CARRYING OUT A SOIL SURVEY
Four Stages Desk Study Field Survey Plotting Data and Preparation of the Soil Map Preparation of the Report
Desk Study Study Terms of Reference determines intensity and purpose of survey and time frame Plot study area on topographic map Study existing data topography, geology, earlier soil maps, vegetation, aerial photos, earlier soil maps (if any) Terrain analysis slope classes Quick field visit to determine access Prepare rentis plan
Desk Study Prepare Rentis Plan (cont d) LAND USE AND VEGETATION MAPS ACCESSIBILITY AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS TRAVERSE PLAN EXISTING SOIL MAPS PHYSIOGRAPHIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS GEOLOGICAL MAPS Factors contributing to the traverse plan
Field Survey and Map Compilation Rentis cutting and data collection Auger and pit descriptions, slope confirmation Delineate obvious soil boundaries e.g. width of streams Field Legend plotted on field maps Preparing Soil Map Draft Soil Map Final Soil Terrain Map
Field Survey and Map Compilation Rentis Cutting and Data Collection Compass 50 m rope Team Leader Read compass, Plants pegs & Clears Clears Cuts trace Record notes, paints pegs undergrowth vegetation Number pegs
A B Rentis C D
Field Survey and Map Compilation Field Legend Plotted on Field Maps Sample of a field map
Field Survey and Map Compilation Preparing Soil Map
Field Survey and Map Compilation Draft Soil Map
HISTORY OF SOIL SURVEYS
3 Periods of Development Pre-independence period prior to 1951 mainly ad hoc surveys Post-independence period 1955 to 1990 systematic soil surveys Modern Unifying period 1990 to present unified systems
Pre-Independence Period (prior to 1951) First published report Dobreet, 1878 Donlap, 1882 / 1886 First Soil Map? Akhurst and Haines (1931) RRIM Station: Sungei Buloh
Early Surveys Importance of Parent Material (Geology) Work by plantation companies Tommerup (Dunlop) Cole (Guthrie) Owen, 1951 Provisional Soil Classification for Malaysia
Second Period (1951-1990) Period of Systematic Soil Surveys Basis for land development / feasibility studies Completion of Reconnaissance Soil Maps of Peninsular / Sabah / Sarawak Beginning of Semi-Detailed Soil Surveys
Reconnaissance Soil Surveys in Peninsular Malaysia
Reconnaissance Soil Surveys in Sabah
Reconnaissance Soil Surveys in Sarawak
Progress of Semi-Detailed Soil Surveys in Peninsular Malaysia
Progress of Semi-Detailed Soil Surveys in Sabah
Progress of Semi-Detailed Soil Surveys in Sarawak
Modern Unifying Period (1990 present) Classifying soils into International Systems Soil Taxonomy / FAO Soil Map of World Correlations between soils in three regions Paramananthan, 1974, 1982 Proposed unified classification of Organic soils Paramananthan et al., 1984 COMSSSEM Committee for the Standardisation of Soil Surveys and Evaluation in Malaysia (established 1991) Standard for scales of soil survey, horizon nomenclature Paramananthan, 1997a Draft of Malaysian Soil Taxonomy Paramananthan, 1997b
Modern Unifying Period Problems Government Departments of Agriculture declared: Soil Survey Reports and Maps prepared by them RESTRICTED Private sector no longer members of COMSSSEM
LAND SUITABILITY CLASS CLASS I No limitation or one minor limitation CLASS II With one medium limitation CLASS III One serious limitation CLASS IV More than one serious limitation CLASS V One very serious limitation
SOILS OF MALAYSIA Their Characteristics and Identification (Vol. 1) Paramananthan, 2000
CONCLUSIONS Soil surveys spearheaded the development of soil science Soil surveys are the backbone of the agricultural development in Malaysia