The Soil Survey
Investigations Division (USDA SCS) formed in 1952 with Dr. Guy D. Smith as
Director. Dr. Robert V. Ruhe headed
field Soil-Geomorphology Investigations.
Dr. Lyle T. Alexander headed field soil sampling and generation of
analytical analyses in support of the soil survey mapping program. In the reorganization, Dr. Guy D. Smith was
given staff leadership in development of a new classification system, later
called Soil Taxonomy. In developing the
system, he drew heavily on research carried out by the laboratoies
and that by university colleagues and those overseas, particularly in Ghent, Belgium.
Four
Soil-Geomorphology projects were established:
1) Eastern Iowa
on the Iowan Erosion Surface, Bob Ruhe; 2) Desert Project in southern New.
Mexico, Leland Gile and John Hawley; 3) Atlantic Coastal Plain Project in
eastern North Carolina, Ray Daniels, Erling Gambel, and Dennis Nettleton; 4) Wilamette Valley in Oregon, Roger Parsons and
C. A. Balstar.
Dr. Lyle T.
Alexander headed operations of Soil Survey Laboratories in Beltsville MD; Lincoln NE, Robert
Grossman; and Riverside CA, Klaus Flach; that provided soil sampling
and analytical support for Soil Survey Field Parties. Laboratory projects were engaged jointly with
the Land-Grant University faculty representative. The 3 laboratories combined in 1975 to form
the National Soil Survey Lab (NSSL) in Lincoln, NE. The major tasks were soil characterization to
support accelerated soil mapping and revision of the water and wind erosion
models. The eruption of Mt. St. Helens produced a unique opportunity to examine
volcanic ash, its aerial distribution, and its composition. With help from USAID soils in several were sampled
countries to be analyzed and classified at NSSL. Soil
Taxonomy was promoted as a common communication tool.