Eutric cambisols – Slovenia’s best agricultural soils

V prispevku predstavljamo ključne lastnosti evtričnih rjavih tal, njihov pridelovalni potencial ter prostorsko razširjenost v Sloveniji. Razlike v lastnostih tal smo ovrednotili med šestimi prevladujočimi skupinami evtričnih rjavih tal, v katere smo jih razvrstili glede na matično podlago. Poleg posameznih, za kakovost pomembnih lastnosti (tekstura, globina, količina rastlinam dostopne vode, pH, zasičenost z bazičnimi kationi, kationska izmenjalna kapaciteta) smo med skupinami primerjali tudi boniteto zemljišč. V analizo smo zajeli dvesto profilov, ki so bili izkopani v okviru pedološkega kartiranja Slovenije ali drugih raziskav tal na Katedri za pedologijo in varstvo okolja Biotehniške fakultete. Ugotovili smo, da evtrična rjava tla pokrivajo 15,5 % Slovenije. Največ takšnih tal je na flišu (19,3 %, 600 km2 ), sledijo evtrična rjava tla na laporovcih (12,7 %, 398 km2 ). Evtrična rjava tla na peščeno-prodnatih nanosih rek, ki so zelo pomembna za poljedelstvo in vrtnarstvo, pokrivajo le 295 km2 (9,4 %). Ta tla izstopajo po ugodni ilovnati teksturi, optimalnem pH in imajo največjo povprečno tehtano boniteto (70 točk), h kateri prispeva tudi raven relief. Vsa evtrična rjava tla imajo večjo povprečno tehtano boniteto, kot je povprečna tehtana boniteta vseh kmetijskih in gozdnih zemljišč v Sloveniji, ki znaša 36 točk, kar je treba upoštevati pri prostorskem načrtovanju – še posebej zaradi njihovega majhnega obsega. Prav tako moramo posebno skrb nameniti njihovemu varovanju pred različnimi oblikami degradacije.This paper presents the main characteristics of Eutric Cambisols, their productivity potential expressed as land-rating, and their spatial distribution in Slovenia. Differences in soil properties were evaluated among the six predominant groups of Eutric Cambisolsclassification was based on the parent material. In addition to individual characteristics affecting soil quality (texture, soil depth, amount of plant available water, pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity), a comparison of land-rating values between the groups was also performed. We analysed 200 profiles excavated as part of the Slovenian Soil Mapping or other soil surveys conducted by the Center for Soil and Environmental Sciences, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. Our results show that Eutric Cambisols cover 15.5% of the area of Slovenia. Most Eutric Cambisols are on flysch (19.3%, 600 km²), followed by Eutric Cambisols on marl (12.7%, 398 km²). Eutric Cambisols on sandy gravel alluvial sediments, an important soil for crop production, cover 295 km² (9.4%). They have a favourable loamy texture and optimal pH. The flat terrain also contributes to this soil’s highest average weighted land-rating value (70 points). The average weighted land-rating value of all Eutric Cambisols is higher than the average weighted land-rating value of all agricultural and forest land in Slovenia, which is 36 pointsthis must be considered in spatial planning, as this type of land has a small share and above all, it must be protected from various degradations