Soil survey using traditional and landscape analysis methods: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah

The overall goal of this research was to develop methodology to advance the soil survey of the Circle Cliffs area of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. A soil survey of the Circle Cliffs area was completed using traditional soil survey methods, and then enhanced using GIS-based methods. A lithosequence of soils was also examined to enhance the understanding of arid soil genesis and the soil-landscape relationships in the Circle Cliffs area. GIS was shown to be beneficial for soil survey data analysis, and was useful for quantifying and validating map unit concepts. The lithosequence study showed that soils formed in lithified parent material exhibited varying degrees of soil development, and the soil formed in non-lithified parent material appeared to be polygenetic. GIS was very useful for accelerating the soil survey, and may be applicable in other remote areas for examining soil-landscape relationships.