Iowa is a major agricultural state, with corn, soybeans, hogs, and cattle being the main products.
The state ranks highly in terms of production for these commodities. In recent years, viticulture has been growing in importance for Iowa, as the state has hundreds of commercial vineyards.
The top 5 agricultural commodities in Iowa, based on the value of cash receipts, are corn, hogs, soybeans, cattle and calves, and dairy products.
US Plant Hardiness Zone for Iowa
Firstly, let us understand the US Plant Hardiness Zone Map of the state.
Plant Hardiness Zone Map Of Iowa
Climate
The state of Iowa experiences a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The state belongs to the 4b-6a zone.
Summer is hot and humid and usually the rainiest season of the year.
The day temperatures are often range between 90- 100°F zone at the peak of July. Winter is severely cold and drops to around -20˚F.
Precipitation
The state receives an annual average rainfall of about 35 inches although the different seasons experience different amounts of precipitation.
The summer records about two-thirds of the rainfall in the state. Snowfall is frequent during the winter averaging 30 inches in the state.
Soil Type
Let us see the ecoregions of the state.
Below is the table showing the distribution of soil orders of the state.
Soil Order Of Iowa
| Soil / Sub Order | Location | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Alfisols/Udalfs | In the Paleozoic Plateau, the east-central drift plain, and the southern drift plain | 1. Udalfs have a udic moisture regime. |
| Mollisols/Udolls and Aquolls | It is found all over the state. | 1. Udolls are the more or less freely drained Mollisols of humid climates. 2. Aquolls are the wet Mollisols. |
| Entisols/Fluvents | In the southern Iowa drift plains, alluvial plains, and Loess hills | 1. Fluvents are the more or less freely drained Entisols that formed in recent water-deposited sediments. |
| Inceptisols/Udepts | In a small part of the southern Iowa drift plain | 1. Udepts are mainly freely drained Inceptisols that have a udic or perudic moisture regime. |
