Soil and landsite databases for sustainable land management in Hungary

Rational land use and soil management are important elements of sustainable (agricultural) development. Soils represent a considerable part of the natural resources of Hungary. Their rational utilization, conservation and the maintenance of their multipurpose functionality have particular significance in the Hungarian national economy and in environment protection (VÁRALLYAY, 1995a, b). Consequently, the scientifically based planning and realization of sustainable land use, introduction of site-specific, precision technologies for biomass production, for the maintenance of the favorable and desirable multi-functionality of soils, for soil and water conservation and for nature preservation require: · adequate information on the soil: exact, reliable, “detectable ” (preferably measurable), accurate and quantitative territorial data on well-defined soil properties with the characterization of their spatial (vertical, horizontal) and temporal variability, soil processes and pedotransfer functions and land characteristics; · comprehensive knowledge on the existing relationships among natural factors, soil and land characteristics and the soil biota, native vegetation and cultivated crop