diff --git a/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/migrations/0020_alter_projectsoilsettings_slope_required_and_more.py b/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/migrations/0020_alter_projectsoilsettings_slope_required_and_more.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2e37d743d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/migrations/0020_alter_projectsoilsettings_slope_required_and_more.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Copyright © 2024 Technology Matters
+#
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published
+# by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+#
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+# GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+# along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
+
+
+# Generated by Django 5.1.2 on 2024-11-06 23:19
+
+from django.db import migrations, models
+
+import apps.soil_id.models.soil_data_history
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ("soil_id", "0019_soildatahistory"),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="projectsoilsettings",
+            name="slope_required",
+            field=models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="projectsoilsettings",
+            name="soil_color_required",
+            field=models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="projectsoilsettings",
+            name="soil_pit_required",
+            field=models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="projectsoilsettings",
+            name="soil_texture_required",
+            field=models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name="soildatahistory",
+            name="soil_data_changes",
+            field=models.JSONField(encoder=apps.soil_id.models.soil_data_history.JSONEncoder),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/models/project_soil_settings.py b/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/models/project_soil_settings.py
index e91e25dbd..370cb3064 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/models/project_soil_settings.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/apps/soil_id/models/project_soil_settings.py
@@ -58,10 +58,10 @@ class Meta(BaseModel.Meta):
         choices=DepthIntervalPreset.choices,
     )
 
-    soil_pit_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
-    slope_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
-    soil_texture_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
-    soil_color_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
+    soil_pit_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True)
+    slope_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True)
+    soil_texture_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True)
+    soil_color_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=True)
     vertical_cracking_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
     carbonates_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
     ph_required = models.BooleanField(blank=True, default=False)
diff --git a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_soil_data.py b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_soil_data.py
index 29e495ee3..8b2a4eb43 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_soil_data.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/mutations/test_soil_data.py
@@ -669,6 +669,41 @@ def test_update_project_soil_settings(client, user, project_manager, project):
     assert payload == new_data
 
 
+def test_project_soil_settings_defaults(client, project_manager, project):
+    client.force_login(project_manager)
+
+    expected_defaults = {
+        "depthIntervalPreset": "NRCS",
+        "soilPitRequired": True,
+        "slopeRequired": True,
+        "soilTextureRequired": True,
+        "soilColorRequired": True,
+        "verticalCrackingRequired": False,
+        "carbonatesRequired": False,
+        "phRequired": False,
+        "soilOrganicCarbonMatterRequired": False,
+        "electricalConductivityRequired": False,
+        "sodiumAdsorptionRatioRequired": False,
+        "soilStructureRequired": False,
+        "landUseLandCoverRequired": False,
+        "soilLimitationsRequired": False,
+        "photosRequired": False,
+        "notesRequired": False,
+    }
+
+    response = graphql_query(
+        UPDATE_PROJECT_SETTINGS_QUERY,
+        variables={"input": {"projectId": str(project.id)}},
+        client=client,
+    )
+
+    assert response.json()["data"]["updateProjectSoilSettings"]["errors"] is None
+    payload = response.json()["data"]["updateProjectSoilSettings"]["projectSoilSettings"]
+    intervals = payload.pop("depthIntervals")
+    assert intervals == []
+    assert payload == expected_defaults
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("depth_interval_preset", ["NRCS", "BLM", "CUSTOM"])
 def test_update_project_depth_interval_preset_depth_dependent_data(
     depth_interval_preset, client, project, project_manager, site_with_soil_data