TY - JOUR T1 - Intrepretive variability of four soil map units for forest management JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 497 LP - 499 VL - 45 IS - 4 AU - T. P. D'Avello AU - S. G. Shetron AU - A. L. Maclean Y1 - 1990/07/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/45/4/497.abstract N2 - The purity of soil map units depends upon the distribution and kinds of soil taxa, landform configuration, and geology of the region to be inventoried. Soil map units may be dominant in one soil taxon (consociation) or may be composed of more than one taxon (complex or association). Published soil maps show the various soil taxa and other components of the landscape. Variability is inherent in soil map units. Conveying this variability to users is essential to the proper use of soil surveys. This study was conducted to determine the purity of four soil mapping units (two consociations and two complexes) and their relationship to selected soil-woodland interpretive ratings. A stratified random transect sampling scheme was used to collect field data. Shannon's measure of entropy was used to express the variability within the map units. Results show the percentage and kinds of inclusions present. Because most inclusions found have similar interpretations to the named soil, the map units still differentiate areas having similar woodland interpretive ratings. ER -