Pedosphere of Croatia

Abstract

Using data from basic soil maps at 1:50,000 and regional monographs, digitized soil maps of Croatia at a scale of 1:300,000 were created. The data from these maps were used for the development of the regionalization of Croatian agriculture and various works on the subject (Basic et al. 2003, 2007), which are used in this book. The map has 65 individual map units, each of which is composed of further pedosystematic units, demonstrating the great diversity of the structure of the Croatian pedosphere, described as a consequence of very complex factors of pedogenesis. However, the structure is dominated by several types of soil. The most common soil type is luvisol on a different parent substrate. The main terrestrial or automorphic soil order, with an area of 3,153,432 ha or 56.63 % of the Croatian land areas shows that it absolutely dominates in terms of surface representation in the pedosphere of Croatia. The genesis of these soils occurs under the influence of rainwater only, whose distribution shows an increase from east to west in the continental areas, in which lie the highest mountains in the region, and from north to south in the Adriatic agricultural regions. Special attention is given herein to anthropogenic influences on soil genesis. The richness and heterogeneity of the Croatian pedosphere is illustrated by data on five soil orders and 36 soil types. Using clearly defined criteria, five orders are presented: the order of Terrestrial soils with seven classes and 23 soil types, the order of Semiterrestrial soils as a “new” order with two classes and three soil types, the order of Hydromorphic soils with three classes and ten soil types, the order of Halomorphic soils with two classes and two types, and the order of Subaquatic soils with one class and three soil types. The Hydromorphic soils cover an area of 1,617,640 ha or 29.05 % of the territory. Soils of this soil order dominate in the Pannonian region. In the actual classification, Semiterrestrial soils are separated as a special order of soil. Taking into account the fact that desertification is occurring in the eastern part of Croatia, which means irrigation is the only way to achieve stable and high yields, and the fact that almost one-third of the area needs hydromelioration—drainage, we can see that Croatian soils as an extremely important resource need investment in amelioration (irrigation and drainage). Halomorphic and Subaquatic soils cover an area of 532 and 321 ha, respectively. Because of drought it is to be expected that some fishponds/water bodies will be starved of their normal water supply, leading to changes in land use. There follows a description of the soil types that compose the pedosphere of Croatia, including the origin of their name, sequence of horizons, evolution, WRB name, physical and chemical properties, taxonomy at the level below subtype, land use, and guidelines for management or amelioration.