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61 <br />II <br />LAND EVALUATION FOR CROPLAND <br />The first step in the preparation and use of the LESA system <br />is to determine the quality of land for cropland use. To accomplish <br />this, soils must be arrayed in order of importance in agricultural <br />groups, and the value of each group relative to another must be <br />calculated. <br />DEFINING AGRICULTURAL GROUPS <br />In designing a system for evaluating cropland, soils must be <br />rated and placed in agricultural groups. ranging from the best to <br />the worst suited for cropland use. The soils of most areas can be <br />arranged in 10 groups, with agricultural group 1 containing the <br />best soils available, and groups 2 -10 having successively lower <br />values. <br />Three land evaluation methods are used in developing the <br />groups of soils: land capability classification, soil productivity <br />index, and important farmland class. Ideally, each of the 10 groups <br />should contain 10 percent of the total land of the county. However, <br />groups containing 5 -15 percent are practical. In some cases, groups <br />may contain more or less than 5 -15 percent, and fewer or more than <br />10 groups may be needed. The intent is to provide enough groups to <br />adequately differentiate significant soil classes. <br />Land Capability Classification <br />Capability classes and subclasses show the suitability of <br />soils for most kinds of field crops. The soils are classed <br />according to their limitations when used for field crops, the risk <br />of damage when used, and the manner in which they respond to <br />treatment. <br />In the capability system, soils are grouped at two basic <br />levels: capability class and subclass. Capability classes, the <br />broadest groups, are designated by Roman numerals I through VIII. <br />The numerals indicate progressively greater limitations and <br />narrower choices for practical use. The classes are defined as <br />follows: <br />I. I -soils have.few limitations that restrict their <br />use. (None in Orange County) <br />2. Class II soils have moderate limitations that reduce the <br />choice of crops or require moderate conservation <br />practices. <br />3. Class III soils have severe limitations that reduce the <br />choice of crops or require special conservation <br />practices, or both. <br />