Classification of soils of Lithuania based on FAO-Unesco soil classification system and WRB

Abstract

After long preparation and discussions new Classification of the Soils of Lithuania 1999 (LTDK-99) is officially used since 1999 for the revision and preparation of the soil maps. Soils are the main natural resource of the country because of that LTDK-99 is a tool for rational land use not only for agriculture and forestry also for the plamiing of different environmental measures and other purposes. LTDK-99 is based on soil genetic classification, and previous soil and land resources survey of the country mainly on the scale of 1:10,000, FAO-Unesco Soil Classification System (1990, 1997), and WRB (1998, 2001). Mainly it is a three-level system consisting of 12 major soil groups (Histosols-HS, Anthroposols-AT, Leptosols-LP, Fluvisols-FL, Gleysols-GL, Podzols-PZ, Planosols-PL, Albeluvisols-AB, Luvisols-LV, Cambisols-CM, Arenosols-AR, Regosols-RG), 46 subgroups and at the III level 235 soil typological units (STU). The major soil groups (I level of the classification) and the soil subgroups (II level) are based on the principle soil forming factors. The soil typological units at the III or IV level on morphogenetic properties of soil. There are cases when some soils are described up to the IV-level (12 STU), and even as the phases (35 STU). If there would be need more STU be easily added. For the users at LTDK-99 III and IV classification level and phases there are given master horizons/layers of the soil. The major soil groups, and subgroups are separately described at progressively decreasing levels. In the future if there would be sufficient data it possible to describe soil up to series.