The dataset should be cited as: Soil Survey of Scotland Staff (1981). Land Capability for Agriculture maps of Scotland at a scale of 1:250 000. Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen. 10.5281/zenodo.6322683Sourced from the James Hutton Institute : linkThematic Maps and Capability maps: Thematic maps show the distribution of a specific soil property or theme, such as topsoil organic carbon content or soil texture.Capability maps use soil data along with information on other properties, such as climate or landscape, to classify the land for a specific purpose such as the Land Capability for Agriculture Classification (LCA) – an assessment of the capacity of land to produce food. We strongly recommend that the 1:50,000 Land Capability for Agriculture is used in preference to 1:250,000. Where it exists (predominantly in the agricultural lowlands of the south and east of the country) the 1:50,000 scale map information is seen as the definitive mapped assessment. For a more site-specific query or to resolve a planning issue, we recommend that a further and very detailed site inspection is carried out. A scan of the printed handbook “Land Capability Classification for Agriculture” (Bibby, J. S., Douglas, H. A., Thomasson, A. J., Robertson, J. S. (1991). Land Capability for Agriculture, Aberdeen: Macaulay Land Use Research Institute) may be downloaded by clicking here.Land Capability for Agriculture national cover (1:250,000)

The National scale land capability for agriculture spatial dataset provides information on the types of crops that may be grown in different areas dependent on environmental and soil characteristics. This map covers the entire country and it can be used to determine the areas most suited to growing crops or grazing livestock.

The digital dataset contains information on the 'class' of soil. Soil classes range from Class 1 (land capable of producing a wide range of crops) to Class 7 (land of very little agricultural value). Land within Class 3 is subdivided to provide further information on potential yields; Classes 4 and 5 are further divided to provide information on grasslands; Class 6 is divided on the quality of the natural vegetation for grazing. Classes 1 to 3.1 are known as prime agricultural land.

The Land Capability for Agriculture assessment was carried out in 1981 using data collected between 1978 and 1981. The National scale land capability for agriculture map was then created in 1983 at a scale of 1:250 000. The map should be cited as: 'Soil Survey of Scotland Staff (1981). Land Capability for Agriculture maps of Scotland at a scale of 1:250 000. Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen.10.5281/zenodo.6322683'.

There is an accompanying booklet that describes the classification in more detail and set out the rules and guidelines to be used. This booklet should be referenced as: Bibby, J.S., Douglas, H.A., Thomasson, A.J. and Robertson, J.S. (1991) Land capability classification for agriculture. Soil Survey of Scotland Monograph. The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research. Aberdeen. ISBN -0-7084-0508-8.

The spatial dataset is provided under the James Hutton Institute open data licence included within the zipped dataset.

The maintenance of this dataset is funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. The data can also be downloaded from or viewed at https://www.hutton.ac.uk/soil-maps/ or viewed at https://soils.environment.gov.scot.

THE CLASSES
Class 1. Land capable of producing a very wide range of crops with high yields
Class 2. Land capable of producing a wide range of crops with yields less high than Class 1.
Class 3. Land capable of producing good yields from a moderate range of crops.
Class 4. Land capable of producing a narrow range of crops.
Class 5. Land suited only to improved grassland and rough grazing.
Class 6. Land capable only of use as rough grazing.
Class 7. Land of very limited agricultural value.

The Land Capability Classification for Forestry is based on an assessment of the increasing degree of limitation imposed by the physical factors of soil, topography and climate on the growth of trees and on silvicultural practices. The system described is designed for use at several levels depending on the amount and accuracy of the available data and on the purpose for which the information is required. The main use of the Land Capability Classification for Forestry is as an aid to decision-making at broad planning levels, as a guide for land managers and as a statement of the natural resources of the land of Britain in terms of forestry potential for educational and general interest purposes. The system is an interpretation derived from several sources and, as with all such approaches, will be subject to some degree of arbitrary decision.

The digital dataset contains information on the 'class' of soil. Classes range from F1 (land offering excellent flexibility for growth and management) to F7 (land unsuitable for producing trees) with seven types of limitations, these being climate, wind throw, nutrients, topography, droughtiness, wetness and soil.

The map was based on a reclassification of the 580 soil map units of the National soil map of Scotland with limited field validation. A set of rules were applied to each of the soil map units combined with information on climate and relief to assign the map units to a capability class for forestry.

The dataset should be cited as Soil Survey of Scotland Staff. (1988). Land Capability for Forestry of Scotland at a Scale of 1:250 000. Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. 10.5281/zenodo.6322608.

There is an accompanying handbook which describes the classification system in detail (Bibby, J.S., Heslop, R.E.F. and Hartnup, R. 1988. Land Capability Classification for Forestry in Britain. The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen. ISBN-0-7084-0467-7.

The maintenance of this dataset is funded by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. The data can also be downloaded from or viewed at https://www.hutton.ac.uk/soil-maps/ or viewed at https://soils.environment.gov.scot.

Class F1. Land with excellent flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F2. Land with very good flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F3. Land with good flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F4. Land with moderate flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F5. Land with limited flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F6. Land with very limited flexibility for the growth and management of tree crops
Class F7. Land unsuitable for producing tree crops