Proposal of the correlation between cartographic units on the agricultural soil map and types and subtypes of Polish Soil Classification (6th edition, 2019)

Abstract

Agricultural soil maps (ASM), prepared since mid-1960s until 1980s and digitalised recently, are important source of information on the quality and spatial variability of arable soils in Poland. Basic standard information in each map contour includes the indication of a (genetic) soil type (often also the subtype or variety related to parent material or other specific properties), soil texture classes throughout the profile, and the category of soil agricultural suitability, which covers the complex information about the soil conditions, land morphology, climate and moisture regime. Unfortunately, the genetic classification on ASM is simplified compared to soil classifications in Poland and does not reflect numerous modernisations of the classification systems, including the modifications of existing units and newly introduced soil types and subtypes. Thus, the reinterpretation of ASM is necessary to simplify the further use of ASM by various users, to allow the creation of modern soil maps based on archival databases, and to correlate the soil data with other modern national and international classifications. This paper includes a proposal of equivalents for the soil units indicated in agricultural soil map (using all soil data available in a map contour), correlated with a recent, the 6th edition of Polish Soil Classification.

Keywords

• agricultural soil map
• classes of agricultural suitability of soils
• soil cartography
• soil classification