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Class I - Soils in class I have no or only slight, 
permanent limitations or risk of damage. They are very 
good. They can be cultivated safely with ordinary good 
farming methods. The soils are deep, productive easily 
worked, and nearly level. They are not subject to 
overflow damage. However, they are subject to fertility 
and puddle erosion. 
Class 11 - Class 11 consists of soils subject to moderate 
limitations in use. They are subject to moderate risk of 
damage. They are good soils. They can be cultivated 
with easily applied practices. Soils in class II differ from 
soils in class I in a number of ways. They may differ in 
terms of slope, soil erosion, soil depth, flood hazard and 
poor drainage condition. Each of these factors requires 
special attention. These soils may require special 
practices such as soil-conserving rotations, water-control 
devices, or special tillage methods. They frequently need 
a combination of practices. 
Class III - Soils in class III are subject to severe 
limitations in use for cropland. They are subject to 
severe risks of damage. They are planted to good 
rotations and given the proper treatment. Soils in this 
class have moderately steep slopes, subject to more 
severe erosion, and they have inherent low fertility. 
These Class III soils are more limited or subject to 
greater risks than class II. The limitations often restrict 
the choice of crops or the timing of planting and tillage 
operations. 
These soils require cropping systems that produce 
adequate plant cover. The cover is needed to protect the 
soil from erosion. It also helps to preserve soil structure. 
Hay or other sodcrops should be grown instead of 
cultivated row crops. A combination of practices is 
needed to farm the land safely. 
Class IV - Class IV is composed of soils that have very 
severe permanent limitations or hazards if used for 
cropland. The soils are fairly good. They may be 
cultivated occasionally if handled with great care. For 
the most part, they should be kept in permanent hay or 
sod. Soils in class IV have unfavorable characteristics. 
They are frequently on steep slopes and subject to severe 
erosion. They are restricted in their suitability for crop 
use. They should usually be kept in hay or pasture, 
although a grain crop may be grown once in five or six 
years. In other cases, the soils may be shallow or 
moderately deep, low in fertility, and occurring on 
moderate slopes. These soils should be in hay or 
sodcrops for long periods. Only occasionally should they 
be planted to row crops. 
Class V - Soils in class V should be kept in permanent 
vegetation. They should be used for pasture or forestry. 
They have few or no permanent limitations and not more 
than slight hazards. Cultivation is not feasible, however, 
because of wetness, stoniness, or other limitations. The 
land is nearly level. It is subject to only slight erosion by 
wind or water if properly managed. Grazing should be 
regulated to protect the plant cover. 
Class VI - Class VI soils should be used for grazing and 
forestry, and may have moderate hazards when in this 
use. They are subject to moderate permanent limitations, 
and are unsuitable for cultivation. They are steep, or 
shallow. Grazing should not be permitted to destroy the 
plant cover. 
Class VII - Soils in Class VII are subject to severe 
permanent limitations or hazards when used for grazing 
or forestry. They are steep, eroded, rough, shallow, 
droughty or swampy. They are fair to poor for grazing or 
forestry, and must be handled with care. Where rainfall 
is ample, Class VII land should be used for woodland. In 
other areas, it should be used for grazing. In the latter 
case, strict management should be applied. 
Class VIII - Soils in class VIII are rough even for 
woodland or grazing. They should be used for wildlife 
or recreation. It must be emphasized that this system of 
classification is primarily concerned with the risk of 
erosion, and not with productivity or fertility. Farmers 
instinctively classify land according to the most 
important characteristic i.e. how well the crops yield, 
and it has to be very carefully explained that allocation 
land into Class II does not mean that it can only grow 
second-rate crops. It might grow a particular crop better 
than Class I land, and an example of this is tobacco 
which does better on light sandy sloping land which 
could be Class II or III than on flat clays and loams 
which could be Class I. What the capability 
Classification system does show and all it shows is what 
intensity of use is best for the land, and how carefully its 
conservation must be managed. 
Within some of the main classes, small sub-classes 
are used to specify particular problems. In the American 
system these are applied only to classes II, III and IV 
and are shown by the addition of the following letters 
added after the class. 
e = erosion 
hazards 
when vulnerability of the soil is the 
main problem in its use 
w = wetness 
- when excess water is the main 
problem 
c = climate 
when climate (e.g. temperature or 
lack of moisture is the main problem) 
s - soil 
- when limitations of the soil (e.g. 
salinity) are the main problem.