Soil type and the effect of management on the condition of the soil are important determinants of the productive performance of maize cropping, and have profound effects on long-term profits. Land managers need reliable, quick and easy tools to use in order to help them assess the condition of their soils and their suitability for growing crops, and to make informed decisions that lead to sustainable land and environmental management. To this end, Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) provides a quick and simple method to assess soil for maize. Scoring is out of 54: the higher the score, the better the condition of the soil and the performance of the plant. Soils with good VSA scores will, by large, give the best production with the lowest establishment and operational costs.