This book provides an overview of the distribution, properties, and function of soils in the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, and its Caribbean territories. It discusses the history of soil surveys and pedological research in the U.S., and offers general descriptions of the countrys climate, geology and geomorphology. For each Land Resource Region (LRR) a geographic/ecological region of the country characterized by its own climate, geology, landscapes, soils, and agricultural practices there is a chapter with details of the climate, geology, geomorphology, pre-settlement and current vegetation, and land use, as well as the distribution and properties of major soils including their genesis, classification, and management challenges. The final chapters address topics such as soils and humans, and the future challenges for soil science and soil surveys in the U.S. Maps of soil distribution, pedon descriptions, profile images, and tables of properties are included throughout the text.

Introduction.- Concepts of Soil Formation and Soil Survey.- Soil Survey.- Soil Properties and Classification.- Soils of the USA: the Broad Perspective.- Soils of the Pacific Coast Region.- Soils of the Rocky Mountain and Inland Pacific Northwest Region.- Soils of the Western Range and Irrigated Land Resource Region.- Soils of the Great Plains.- Southwest Plateaus and Plains Range and Cotton Region and Southwestern Prairies Cotton and Forage Region.- Soils of the Northern Lake States Forest and Forage Region.