The
Iowa Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) was initially developed in 1971 as an index method to rate different kinds of soils for their potential row-crop productivity. The CSR rating system is designed to rate one soil's yield potential against another over time. It assigns a point system that has each soil start at 100 and then deductions are made for different factors such as land condition, slope, water and climate.
According to Iowa State University (2013)"The Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) is an index that rates soil types for their potential row-crop productivity. Early concepts for rating productivity date back to the 1940s by Iowa State University (ISU) scientists. A major advance came in 1971 with an ISU publication describing CSR by Thomas Fenton, professor of agronomy at Iowa State, and several colleagues. CSRs are based on inherent soil properties 60 to 80 inches deep, average weather and the potential of different kinds of soil for row-crop production. The CSR reflected the scientists’ extensive expert knowledge of these factors, modern statistical methods and a multiyear, detailed analysis of the productivity of Iowa’s 30 million acres of farmland. CSRs have been — and arguably remain — the most sophisticated and complete quantitative soil productivity ratings available in the world. As a resource, they certainly have been the most trusted."
CSR values can be found by accessing the
Soils Map within Surety
®
CSR Missing Values
In the 2014 & 2015 soil data updates by the NRCS / USDA, some of the soils in Iowa (IA) have been reclassified. When this happens, there will be no CSR nor ISPAID data available for display (only CSR2 data) unless a previous soil database is selected on the soil map. See:
Soils Map History & Version
Explanation of the original CSR.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1168.pdf
A CSR2 officially released on January 1st, 2014
Reference:
Iowa State University (May 2013).
Corn Suitability Rating (CSR) Background and Update.Retrieved from
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/page/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/page/CSR2%20FAQ%20Final.pdf
See Also: