This map displays the percentage of organic matter in the surface layer of cultivated soils in the agricultural region of Alberta. Soil organic matter (SOM) is derived primarily from the decomposition of plant biomass. SOM improves both the physical and chemical properties of soil and has beneficial effects on agricultural soil quality. SOM is reported on the map as a percentage using the following classes: less than 2 (very low), 2 to 4 (low), 4 to 6 (medium), 6 to 8 (high) and greater than 8 (very high).This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

Soil Survey polygons contain soils spatial and attribute information utilized by the Ministry of Environment online Soil Information Finder Tool ([SIFT](http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/land/soil-information-finder)). The information pertains to soil survey data in the Province of British Columbia, as well as links to a variety of reports and maps. Polygons related to soil surveys can be made up of a complex of up to 3 components representing 3 different soil types. These components are aspatial and represent the amount in the polygon indicated by the PERCENT_x field for the component x. Each unique soil type has a soil name and generalized attributes such as drainage, texture and coarse fragment percent. The [Soil Name and Layer Files](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/a3bc4cd3-0f1b-4a2f-bd88-76f821756d10) can be joined and related to each of the 3 components of the Soil Survey Spatial View polygons using the SoilSymbol field in the name and layer tables and the `SOILSYM_x` fields in the Soil Survey Spatial View.

Soil Survey (SL) Project Boundaries (STE_SOIL_PROJ_BOUNDARIES_SVW) contain boundaries (study areas) and attributes describing each SL project (project level metadata), and includes links to the locations of other data associated with the project (e.g., soil survey reports, polygon datasets, plotfiles, scanned maps, legends). This layer is derived from the [STE_TEI_PROJECT_BOUNDARIES_SP](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/1313fac7-2ea1-4c6b-995b-bd421b7ec3c6) layer by filtering on the PROJECT_TYPE attribute. Project types include: SOIL, TIMSOI, and SOILSW. SL Project Boundaries should be used in conjunction with [Soil Name and Layer Files](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/soil-name-and-layer-files) and [Soil Survey Polygons](https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/soil-survey-spatial-view) which divide the landscape into units according to soil association, name, type, drainage, parent material, and texture. Soil datasets and resources can also be accessed through the [Soil Mapping Data Packages](http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/esd/distdata/ecosystems/Soil_Data/Soil_Data_Pkgs/) or the interactive mapping application [Soil Information Finder Tool](https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/land/soil/soil-information-finder). **Current version**: v12 (2026-06-22)

The “Soil Landscapes of Canada V.2.2/V.3.1 - Soil Order” displays the highest (most general) level of soil classification. Within the Canadian System of Soil Classification there are ten recognized soil orders (Soil Classification Working Group 1998). This system is hierarchical (from general to specific). Soil orders are further subdivided to great groups, subgroups, families, and series.

A soil survey is an inventory of soils and their spatial distribution over a landscape. Soil survey reports contain two parts. The first part is a soil map or series of maps at a particular scale with coding for each soil. Soil survey reports also include a supporting document that contains background information such as how the soil survey was conducted, and an explanation of interpretive criteria and a summary of the area occupied by various soil types. The detailed soil surveys identify more of the variation in soil types across smaller landscapes, as compared to Generalized (1:100 000, i.e. provincial overview) and Reconnaissance or General (1:125 000, or 1/2 inch to 1 mile.) soil surveys. Detailed soil survey information is much more accurate and reliable for making decisions at the farm-level. Soil surveys have been published for most of the agricultural areas, and many surrounding areas, across Canada. Data from these surveys comprise the most detailed soil inventory information in the National Soil Database (NSDB). Version 3 was created by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in the 2010's by amalgamating version 2 data. It introduced some minor refinements to the version 2 data structure to provide closer alignment with the Soil Landscapes of Canada data structure.

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Soil Development by Ecoprovince” dataset contains tables that provide soil development information for components within the ecoprovince framework polygon. It provides soil development codes and their English and French-language descriptions as well as the percentage of the polygon that the component occupies. The soil development descriptions are based on the second edition of the Canadian System of Soil Classification (Agriculture Canada Expert Committee on Soil Survey, 1987).

This map displays the distribution of the main soil types found within the province of Alberta. The distribution pattern of soils in Alberta is strongly linked to climate and parent materials. Climate affects the location of different soil groups. The driest area in southeastern Alberta is represented by the presence of Brown Chernozems. As one proceeds north and west, the soils and associated vegetation reflect the increase in available moisture.In Alberta, Organic soils generally occur in association with Luvisolic soils. These soils form under wet conditions where the organic layer (greater than 30% organic matter) accumulates faster than it decomposes. The organic layer varies in thickness from 40 to 160+ cm, and under natural conditions, the water table is at or near the surface. In some areas of the province, Organic soils may be artificially drained and used for agricultural production. This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

Get consolidated soil data mapped on a county basis in a digitally stitched and standardized product. This soil survey data was mapped by a number of soil surveyors from the 1920s to the 1990s. The product incorporates soil information from a variety of map scales. The project has brought the individual county or regional municipality surveys together to reveal inconsistencies in soil data across county boundaries. The soil complex database contains other descriptive information including: * slope class * Canada Land Inventory (CLI) ranking * stoniness * drainage class * texture

Predicted Soil Great Group class as defined by the The Canadian System of Soil Classification (third edition).

The National Ecological Framework for Canada's "Soil Development by Ecodistrict” dataset contains tables that provide soil development information for components within the ecodistrict framework polygon. It provides soil development codes and their English and French-language descriptions as well as the percentage of the polygon that the component occupies. The soil development descriptions are based on the second edition of the Canadian System of Soil Classification (Agriculture Canada Expert Committee on Soil Survey, 1987).