Soil Type vs LandPKS Soil ID

Catalog the different types of soils you have in your farm lands with the Soil Type app. The Soil Type app guides you through the "Ribbon Test" - a way to classify your top soil by feeling the texture of the soil when mixed with water. The Soil Type app provides an easy to use step by step wizard that walks you through the process with textual instructions. The test is easily done on the field and all you need is a little bit of water and around 25 grams of topsoil from your field. You can store your cataloged soil samples within the app and also store the map location of the sample along with a photo from your device camera!

LandPKS Soil ID is a free mobile app that helps identify soils in the field. Create a site anywhere in the world and instantly see potential soils ranked from global soil survey maps. Collect observations using step-by-step guides to refine the ranking — no lab or internet connection required. Available in English, French, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian, and Georgian. Key Features: - Soil matching from global map data: Create a site and immediately see a ranked list of potential soils based on soil survey maps for that location. As site observations are entered, the ranking refines further by weighing similarity between observed properties and each potential soil. - Guided data collection: Step-by-step tools for slope, soil color, texture, rock fragments, surface cracks, and depth-by-depth soil profile observations. - Projects and teams: Create projects to organize sites, invite team members, and set standardized data collection requirements across locations. - Fully offline capable: Create sites and collect data without cell or internet service. Data syncs automatically when connectivity returns. - Data ownership and privacy: Control who can access site data. Export observations for use in other tools and reports. Who it's for: LandPKS Soil ID is used by agricultural consultants, soil scientists, extension agents, researchers, educators, government field staff, farmers, and ranchers — anyone who needs to identify or characterize soils on-site. It supports both solo fieldwork and coordinated data collection across organizations. Built on trusted partnerships: LandPKS is a long-running collaboration between government agencies, universities, and nonprofits dedicated to accessible soil science tools. Learn more at https://landpotential.org