An Improved Economic Land Classification System for Spatial Linear Programming Models

Spatial linear programming studies in agriculture require establishment of a land resource base so representative enterprise budgets can be constructed to reflect productivity and limitations of each region's agricultural land. To relate the land base to budgeting procedures requires an economic classification of agricultural soils. Ideally, this classification would group together those soils requiring similar cultural practices and having the same yield capabilities. Costs and returns can then be computed for selected agricultural enterprises within each classification. Technical information on agronomically based soil classifications is available through agricultural experiment station reports and the Soil Conservation Service. These reports give an abundance of detailed physical and chemical soil data on a county basis.Because technical data are extensive, a problem exists in translating this information into economic groupings suitable for use in constructing budgets. Economic classification of soils for a spatial study should be pragmatic but detailed enough to ensure a meaningful linkage of enterprise budgets to the soil.