Modern Azerbaijani soil classification system

Abstract

A new soil classification system is elaborated on the basis of the legend to the soil map of Azerbaijan on a scale of 1: 100 000. The classification system includes above-type categories and a detailed list of anthropogenically transformed soils. It is based on the profile-genetic and evolutionary concepts. The soil classes (the highest taxon) include naturally developed, anthropogenically modified, and technogenically disturbed soils. The lists of soils of the first two classes are similar to those of the new Russian soil classification system, contrary to the class of technogenically disturbed soils, which is subdivided into soil orders with respect to the particular kinds of soil disturbance. The concept of soil types is generally preserved in the new classification. The diagnostics of soil types are based on the sequences of genetic horizons (types of soil profiles). The latter are used for finding proper correlation of the distinguished soil types with analogous soils in the WRB system.