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 A general map of Arizona soils is presented in Arizona Soils, written by David Hendricks and published in 1985. This entire book can be accessed online from the University of Arizona Library website. Hendricks intersected the four soil temperature zones with three broad precipitation zones in Arizona:
- Arid >250 mm (10 in) annually
- Semiarid 250 - 410 mm (10 - 16 in) annually
- Subhumid >410 mm (16 in) annually
This yielded seven temperature-precipitation zones:
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Soil Temperature Zone |
Precipitation Zone |
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Hyperthermic Arid |
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22 C (72F) or greater |
>250 mm (10 in) |
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Thermic Arid |
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15 - 22 C (59 - 72 F) |
130 - 250 mm (5 - 10 in) |
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Thermic Semiarid |
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15 - 22 C (59 - 72 F) |
250 - 410 mm (10 - 16 in) |
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Mesic Arid |
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8 - 15 C (47 - 59 F) |
150 - 250 mm (6 - 10 in) |
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Mesic Semiarid |
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8 - 15 C (47 - 59 F) |
250 - 410 mm (10 - 16 in) |
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Mesic Subhumid |
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8 - 15 C (47 - 59 F) |
>410 mm (16 in) |
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Frigid Subhumid |
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8 C (47 F) or less |
>410 mm (16 in) |
Within this coarse classification, soil associations can be explored. Soil associations are groups of individual soils occurring together in a landscape. Arizona Soils provides the soil classification, elevation, precipitation regime, temperature regime, and land use information for each soil association recognized in this classification.
Arizona Soils provides general information on the soil classification, climatic regime, dominant vegetation, and uses for soils at a coarse scale across the state of Arizona. This is most useful for making comparisons between various parts of the state and for gaining a broad overview of patterns in soils, climate characteristics, and vegetation communities across this highly variable state. The next section will discuss soil surveys, which provide much more detailed, site-specific information.
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