The Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (KSSL) at the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC) is responsible for providing accurate and reliable soil characterization data for the activities of the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) within the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS). The KSSL data are provided in reports (for example, Primary and Supplementary Characterization Data Sheets) and in various electronic forms, including tape, CD, and DVD. These reports are the end product of the analytical system and are a means to transmit information to the users of the data. It follows that these reports must be complete, accurate, and understandable. These reports also provide historical documentation for future reference.

The "Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual" (SSIR 42) describes the methods used by the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (KSSL) at the National Soil Survey Center (NSSC). The methods are documented by codes and linked with analytical results stored in the NCSS Soil Characterization Database.

The "Soil Survey Laboratory Information Manual" (SSIR 45) follows the same topical outline as the "Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual" (SSIR 42). The "Soil Survey Laboratory Information Manual" provides brief summaries of KSSL methods and detailed discussions of the use and application of the resulting data.

Soil survey data, including pedon characterization data, are used more appropriately when the operations for collecting, analyzing, and reporting the data are thoroughly understood. The "Soil Survey Laboratory Information Manual" describes the characterization data reports and thereby maximizes user understanding of the data. This document is not intended as an interpretive guide for soil characterization data.

The "Soil Survey Field and Laboratory Methods Manual" (SSIR 51) serves as a reference for scientists in a field or field-office setting. It is a companion to the "Soil Survey Laboratory Methods Manual" (SSIR 42), which serves as a reference for laboratory analysts. The combined documentation of standard operating procedures ensures continuity in the analytical process. Both SSIR 42 and SSIR 51 are "How To" manuals; their respective methods follow the same format and cover many of the same kinds of analyses.