History

Records from early explorers record the topography and soil of Mississippi. According to the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Office, Hernando DeSoto described the prairies and woodlands of Mississippi in his 16th-century explorations. Since the inception of the Mississippi Soil Survey program in 1899, 39 Mississippi counties have published soil survey reports. In 1965, the United States adopted a more detailed, standardized soil classification system that is used in today's surveys. These surveys provide valuable information to homeowners and farmers alike.

Types

The Natchez soils along the bluffs of the Mississippi Delta comprise 171,559 acres of fertile, productive soils used mostly for pasture and woodland. Flat, level areas are dedicated to agriculture. In 1988, the Professional Soil Classifiers Association of Mississippi "selected Natchez silt loam to represent the soil resources of the state of Mississippi," according to the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Office. Clay soils are found throughout the Jackson Prairie Belt, including Durand Oak Prairie and Harrell Prairie Hill. These soils are fertile, but compacted and poorly draining. Salt spots are found throughout the state and are characterized by light-colored, red soil lacking vegetation.

Identification

Obtaining a soil sample from the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Office is the surest way to identify soil type, but examining the soil will provide many clues. Soils with excessive sodium have a red, bleached appearance and any vegetation growing on them is usually stunted. Natchez silt soils are soft, dark and easily tilled. The clay soils found on Mississippi prairies is light in color and clumps together when handled.

Considerations

For home gardening purposes, Natchez soil is ideal. Natchez soil, found along the Delta bluffs, is rich in nutrients and light enough to drain well and provide oxygen to plants. Clay soils, while nutrient-rich, have very small particles and don't provide good drainage or aeration to plants. Clay soils hold water well and stay cool. Salt spots, found randomly throughout the state, usually occupy no more than a two-acre patch of land. The high salinity in this soil burns plant roots and stunts growth.

Solutions

Gardeners lucky enough to have Natchez soil need few soil improvements. Amend clay soil by tilling in equal amounts of manure, compost and peat moss annually, but add no more than 3 inches of organic material per year. Some clay soils in Mississippi are mildly to moderately alkaline. Amend the soil with sulfur, based on soil test recommendations, to adjust the pH level of clay soils if necessary. Treat salt spots by applying gypsum and tilling deeply at least annually to expose more of the soil's surface to air, allowing salt to evaporate.