Soils of Israel

Abstract

Israel, whose area is comparable to half the area of Moscow oblast, has a wide range of soils, from Terra Rossas in the subhumid northern regions to Regosols on the arid southern plains. This diversity is due to both the present-day differentiation of the climate and the landscape structure of the region and due to evidence of the past, mainly of the Neogene and Quaternary environments. The pre-Quaternary history resulted in the prevalence of soils developed on calcareous rocks differing in weathering forms; the Quaternary age is imprinted in soils developed on different rocks of continental genesis, including coastal dunes and lacustrine deposits. This pattern is completed with soils developed on Neogene-Quaternary magmatites. The soil cover of the country was influenced by the eolian accumulation of silty-clay material and experienced periodic climatic changes from more humid to drier ones during the entire Quaternary period and acquired features of a particular spatial unit. At the same time, similar soils occur in adjacent countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. During the last 50–70 years, many new agrogenically transformed soils and soil-like formations have appeared in the soil cover of the country.