The soils of the South Central Planning Region in Bulgaria distribution, characteristics, limiting degradation factors
Plamen Ivanov
, Mariana Hristova
, Biser Hristov
Abstract: The paper presents a brief description of the soils in the South Central Planning Region of Bulgaria. Soil differences and their distribution are indicated through analysis of printed and digital map material. The established information is supplemented with a graphic representation of the soils using a geographic information system (GIS). Some of the morphological features of soils, as well as several of their chemical and physicochemical characteristics, are highlighted. A few fundamental natural and anthropogenic factors related to the influence of degradation processes leading to a decrease in soil fertility are presented.
Keywords: degradation processes; GIS; soil characteristics; soil fertility; soil units
Citation: Ivanov, P., Hristova, M. & Hristov, B. (2025). The soils of the South Central Planning Region in Bulgaria – distribution, characteristics, limiting degradation factors. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(6), 1079–1085
| References: (click to open/close) | Filcheva, Е., Ilieva, R., Lubenova, I., Hristov, B. & Hristova, M. (2018). Humus State of Bulgarian Chernozems. In: Modern State of Chernozems, Proceedings from II International Scientific Conference , 1, 24 - 28 September 2018, Rostov-on-Don – Taganrog, Publishing house of Southern Federal University, ISBN 978-5-9275-2871-4, ISBN 978-5-9275-2889-9 (Т. 1), 69 - 76.
Gyurov, G. & Artinova, N. (2015). Soil Science, second edition. Intelexpert-94, Plovdiv. ISBN 978-619-7220-01-8, 257 (Bg).
ISSAPP – Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “Nikola Poushkarov. Digital Soil Map of Bulgaria, scale 1:400 000, http://www.issapp-pushkarov.org/en/resources. Accessed: 30.09.2022.
IUSS Working Group WRB. (2022). World Reference Base for Soil Resources. International Soil Classification System for Naming Soils and Creating Legends for Soil Maps. 4th edition. International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), Vienna, Austria.
Koynov, V., Kabakchiev, I. & Boneva, K. (1998). Atlas of Soils in Bulgaria. Agricultural Academy, N. Poushkarov Institute of Soil Science and Agroecology, Phare Programme, PublishScieSet-Agri, ZEMIZDAT, Sofia, ISBN 954-05-0116-4, 321 (Bg).
Koynov, V., Trashliev, H., Yolevski, M., Andonov, T., Ninov, N., Hadzhiyanakiev, A., Angelov, E., Boyadzhiev, T., Fotakieva, E., Krastanov, S., Staykov, I., Dimitrov, D., Treykyashki, P., Kabakchiev, I., Tanev, G., Dishovski, T., Krasteva, I., Hinov, G., Ralchev, A., Pophristov, B., Grigorov, L., Takov, A., Achkov, N., Konstantinov, G., Andreevski, D., Kostov, G., Novakov, B., Iliev, P., Bakalova, V. & Vatralov, I. (1968a). Soil Map of Bulgaria, scale 1:400 000. General Directorate of Geodesy and Cartography, MapProject, Sofia (Bg).
Koynov, V., Trashliev, H., Yolevski, M., Andonov, T., Ninov, N., Hadzhiyanakiev, A., Angelov, E., Boyadzhiev, T., Fotakieva, E., Krastanov, S., Staykov, I., Dimitrov, D., Treykyashki, P., Kabakchiev, I., Tanev, G., Dishovski, T., Krasteva, I., Hinov, G., Ralchev, A., Pophristov, B., Grigorov, L., Takov, A., Achkov, N., Konstantinov, G., Andreevski, D., Kostov, G., Novakov, B., Iliev, P., Bakalova, V. & Vatralov, I. (1968b). Soil Map of Bulgaria, scale 1:400 000. Explanatory Text. Academy of Agricultural Sciences, N. Poushkarov Institute of Soil Science, Publishing House of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, 23 (Bg).
Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW). (2024). National Program for Protection, Sustainable Use and Restoration of the Soil Functions (2020-2030). https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/pochvi/strategicheski-dokumenti/. Accessed: 19.01.2024 (Bg).
National Statistical Institute. (2024). Regions, Districts and Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria 2022. https://www.nsi.bg/publications/raionite-oblastite-i-obshtinite-v-republika-balgariya-2022-2195. Accessed: 26 June 2025.
Nedyalkova, K., Donkova, R. & Dimitrov, I. (2015). Microbiological Status of Chromic Luvisols under Different Management Practices. In: The Soil and Agricultural Technologies in a Changing World, Proceedings of International Conference Dedicated to the International Year of Soils and the 140 th Anniversary of the Birth of Nikola Poushkarov, 11–15 May 2015, Sofia. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Environment and Water, Agricultural Academy, “N. Poushkarov” ISSAPP, Bulgarian Soil Science Society, 196 - 201 (Bg).
Nenov, M., Dimitrov, I., Nikolova, D. & Toncheva, R. (2015). A System of Agrotechnical Solutions to Improve the Physical Characteristics of Chromic Luvisols (WRBSR, 2006). In: The Soil and Agricultural Technologies in a Changing World, Proceedings of International Conference Dedicated to the International Year of Soils and the 140 th Anniversary of the Birth of Nikola Poushkarov, 11–15 May 2015, Sofia. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Environment and Water, Agricultural Academy, “N. Poushkarov” ISSAPP, Bulgarian Soil Science Society, 202-207 (Bg).
OpenStreetMap. OpenStreetMap contributors, https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation (OSMF). Accessed: 02.04.2025.
Penkov, M., Donov, V., Boyadjiev, T., Andonov, T., Ninov, N., Yolevski, M., Antonov, G. & Gencheva, S. (1992). Classification and diagnostics of soils in Bulgaria in connection with land partition. Zemizdat, Sofia, 151 (Bg).
Penkov, M., Zaharinov, B. & Peichinova, M. (2008). On the Degradation Processes of Soils in Bulgaria. Ecology and Future, Journal of Agricultural Science and Forest Science, 7(1), 11 - 17 (Bg).
QGIS, 3.22. QGIS.org, %Y. QGIS Geographic Information System. QGIS Association. http://www.qgis.org. Accessed: 28.02.2024.
Regional administration Plovdiv. (2024). https://pd.government.bg/?page_id=1571. Accessed: 18.01.2024 (Bg).
Rousseva, S. (2015). Soil and Climate Change. In: The Soil and Agricultural Technologies in a Changing World, Proceedings of International Conference Dedicated to the International Year of Soils and the 140 th Anniversary of the Birth of Nikola Poushkarov, 11–15 May 2015, Sofia. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Environment and Water, Agricultural Academy, “N. Poushkarov” ISSAPP, Bulgarian Soil Science Society, 18 - 25 (Bg).
Sapundzhiev, D. & Mitreva, Z. (2016). Agro-climatic Potential of the South Central Planning Region. Soil Science Agrochemisty and Ecology, 50(3-4), 120 - 127 (Bg).
Teoharov, М. (2015). Bulgarian Land Resources - Problems and Perspectives. In: The Soil and Agricultural Technologies in a Changing World, Proceedings of International Conference Dedicated to the International Year of Soils and the 140 th Anniversary of the Birth of Nikola Poushkarov, 11–15 May 2015, Sofia. Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Environment and Water, Agricultural Academy, “N. Poushkarov” ISSAPP, Bulgarian Soil Science Society, 26 - 34 (Bg).
Teoharov, М. & Hristov, B. (2016). The soils of Zlatitsa-Pirdop Field and Surrounding Area. In: М. Teoharov and B. Hristov (Eds.). Geochemical and Agroecological Problems of the Zlatitsa-Pirdop Field and Surrounding Area. BSSS, ISSAPP “N. Poushkarov”, Federation of the Scientific Engineering Unions – Scientific Engineering Union of Agriculture, Sofia, ISBN 987-619-90414-1-3, BSSS, 9 - 27 (Bg). |
|
| Date published: 2025-12-16
Download full text 
