An Agricultural Capability Rating System for Reconstructed Soils

This paper provides the rationale and a system for assessing the agricultural capability of reconstructed soils. The concept of capability rather than productivity is used in formulating comparisons between pre- and post-disturbance situations. The system developed parallels the Canada Land Inventory soil capability for agriculture rating system which is presently used to rate soil capability in Alberta. Seven classes and a number of subclasses based on climate, soil and landscape characteristics characterize the system. The degree of climatic limitation is used to establish the base level or starting point in developing and applying the reconstructed soil capability rating system. Other criteria include topography, absence or presence/thickness of topsoil, texture, stoniness, drainage, pH, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio and erosion.