Bulgarian soil classification issues of correlation and harmonization with the international soil classification systems

Toma Shishkov

Abstract: The paper presents the establishment of the Bulgarian soil classification and the outcomes of large scale mapping services for arable land in the country at scale 1:10 000 and to outline the correlation and harmonization issues with the international soil classification systems. The latest WRB edition (IUSS Working Group WRB, 2015) aiming at the guidance of the newest issue with the diagnostic assessment in broader aspect covers not only Europe. In this paper, we present the drafting of the soil classification issues including objectives towards the national implementation of the international soil classification systems, outlining the correlation and harmonization including WRB (2006), WRB (2015), Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey Staff, 2014) and FAO-UNESCO (Revised Legend of the World Soils, 1990) as well as basic steps to be taken, to achieve decision making on the basis of soil quality maintenance and enhancement. It will also serve as a call for action to encourage more EC assessments at the national level, but also as a primer for the inclusion of new suggestions.

Keywords: Bulgaria; diagnostic horizons; FAO-UNESCO; mapping units; soil classification; Soil Taxonomy; WRB

Date published: 2019-08-27