An Overview of Soils of Slovenia

Abstract

The chapter describes the most frequent/dominant soil types in Slovenia. Lithosol and Regosol represent the class of Undeveloped Soils that feature an (A)-C or (A)-R sequence of horizons. Rendzina and Ranker are the most dominant soil types belonging to the class of humus-accumulative soils (with an A-C or A-R horizon structure). The main Cambisols (with either an A-B-C or A-B-R sequence of horizons) are Dystric Brown Soil, Eutric Brown Soil, and Kalkocambisol. The order of Hydromorphic Soils is presented by a description of Pseudogley, Hipogley, Amphigley, and Epigley. For each soil, the genesis and soil profile development is explained, and the main physical and chemical properties are described. The statistics on selected soil properties are derived from the measured soil profile datasets of the presented soil types. The representative examples of measured soil profile datasets are included in the soil-type descriptions. The spatial distribution of soil types is provided by maps. This chapter is illustrated with photographs of land, soil profiles, and soil features.