Understanding a soil profile
A soil profile describes the site; soil preferences describe the plant. ClimaFlora keeps the two separate so that mapped properties are not confused with botanical tolerance.
The idea at a glance
pH and chemistry
pH is a first indicator of acidity or alkalinity. It influences nutrient availability but does not by itself describe fertility or plant establishment.
Texture
Clay, silt and sand fractions help describe infiltration, water storage, aeration and rooting conditions. Texture should be read together with drainage and effective depth.
Reading soil without oversimplifying it
Carbon, CEC and coarse fragments
Organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and coarse fragments describe different aspects of the soil. They complement one another but are not interchangeable.
Depth and resolution
SoilGrids is mapped, modelled information. The displayed depth identifies the layer used. A local soil pit or laboratory analysis remains more precise for high-stakes decisions.
Comparing with a taxon
The goal is not to match one ideal value exactly, but to identify strong conflicts, documented tolerance zones and properties that require local verification.