National topsoil texture map of Scotland

The National scale topsoil texture dataset is based on the digital (vector) version of the soils of Scotland 1:250 000 maps and the land cover of Scotland 1988.

The topsoil texture in this data set has been determined using data from the Scottish soils knowledge and information base (SSKIB). The component sand, silt and clay contents held within SSKIB are derived from a subset from over 40 000 analyses held within the Scottish soils database. The median, silt and clay contents were calculated for each soil horizon of each soil taxonomic unit (soil series) delineated within the 1:250 000 national soil map of Scotland, using only data from those horizons that matched the typical horizon sequences for each taxonomic unit. The percentage of sand-sized particles was derived by subtraction the percentage of silt plus clay from 100. Where no data was available, information from analogous (similar) soil series (taxonomic units) were used. The data are presented in British Standards Institute texture classes (BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION. Code of Practice for Site Investigations. BS5930:1981 Second Edition. British Standards Institution, London, 1981) and are applied to the dominant soil type within a map unit. Please cite as: Soil Survey of Scotland Staff. 2014. National scale map of topsoil texture. James Hutton Institute. Aberdeen. 10.5281/zenodo.5786877.

The preparation of this dataset was funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government.