Overview

The Optimal Thickness of Soil (OpTS) Model is a web-based decision support tool to help land regeneration practitioners and sector stakeholders in the UK estimate the minimum required soil thickness to support water requirements for a mature stand of trees on a regenerated previously damaged or disturbed site.

It takes into account current and future projected growing period rainfall, tree crop type, soil texture, stoniness, and site preparation methods to estimate the water usage (transpiration) vs water availability (rainfall and soil available water capacity) on site, and identify if additional soil-forming materials may be required to support tree establishment and survival into the future.

Use the model

The OpTS Model is an updated version of the soil thickness model developed and published by Moffat (1995).  

The OpTS Model is a user-friendly tool to provide rapid estimates of minimum soil thickness requirements. The user is required to input site information on: 

• the location of the site as an Ordnance Survey six-figure grid reference 
• the type of tree that will be planted 
• the soil preparation method
• details of existing topsoil (if any)
• details of the soil-forming materials or subsoil of the site 

More information and guidance

More information is available in the OpTS Model and through the OpTS Model Guidance Document.