Soil Resources of Europe

By P. Bullock, R.J.A. Jones and L. Montanarella
This volume contains papers from all the EU member states and three EFTA countries – Iceland, Norway and Switzerland – summarising the present position regarding the detail and availability of soil information, particularly spatial data, at national level. These papers provide an invaluable update on the status of soil survey and soil database development in Europe, and follow a recent surge in the demand for soil information to address environmental problems. The information is also needed for planning and implementing appropriate mitigation measures and abatement strategies.

The first comprehensive summary of base-line soil resource data in Europe emerged from a meeting of the Heads of European Soil Surveys and Soil Data Centres, held at Silsoe in 1989 (Hodgson, 1991, EUR 13340 EN). A second meeting of this group took place in Orleans in December 1994 (Le Bas and Jamagne, 1996, EUR 16371 EN). This third volume summarises the national picture from papers presented at the European Soil Bureau Advisory Committee meeting held in Silsoe 21-22 April 1998. It describes a range of applications for soil information appropriate at the European level and it includes a contribution on the activities of the European Soil Bureau sponsored by the European Commission. Together these three volumes provide a wealth of information on the soil resources of Europe.

Preface and table of contents

Section 1: European Perspectives

  • The European Soil Bureau by L. Montanarella and R.J.A.Jones
  • Soil Resources of Europe – An Overview by Peter Bullock

    Section 2: Country Reports

  • Soil Survey and Soil Data in Austria by W.E.H. Blum, M.Englisch, P. Nelhiebl, W. Schneider, S. Schwarz and J. Wagner
  • Soil Survey in Belgium and its Applications by R. Dudal and J. Deckers
  • Soil Mapping in Denmark M.H. Greve and H. Breuning-Madsen
  • Status of Soil Mapping in Finland by J. Sippola and M. Yli-Halla
  • Soil Mapping and Soil Monitoring: State of Progress and Use in France by D. King, P.Stengel and M. Jamagne
  • Soil Information in Germany: the 1998 Position by W. Eckelmann
  • Soil Survey in Greece by N. Yassoglou
  • Soil Survey and Databases in Iceland by O. Arnalds
  • Application of Soils Data to Land Use and Environmental Problems in Ireland by J. Lee and B.Coulter
  • Advances in Soil Survey, Monitoring and Applications in Italy by E.A.C. Costantini, L.Jardin and M. Pagliai
  • Development and Perspective of Soil Survey in the Netherlands by B.J.A. van der Pouw and P.A. Finke
  • Soil Survey in Norway by A.H. Arnoldussen
  • Progress of Soil Survey in Portugal by M.C. Gonçalves, L.C.L. Reis and J.G.Paz
  • Soil Survey, Soil Databases and Soil Monitoring in Spain by J.J. Ibáñez, J. Sánchez Díaz, D. De la Rosa and S de Alba
  • Soil Survey in Sweden by M. Olsson
  • Soil Survey in Switzerland by L-F. Bonnard
  • Soil Survey and Its Application in the United Kingdom: An Overview by M.G. Jarvis

    Section 3: Conclusions and Recommendations

  • Soil Information – Uses and Needs In Europe by Peter Bullock
  • Conclusions and Recommendations by Peter Bullock

    Section 4: List of Participants

    European Soil Bureau Advisory Committee

  • Back Cover

    For a printed copy of the book and/or more information, please contact:

    Dr Luca Montanarella
    Joint Research Center of the European Commission
    Ispra (VA) 21020 ITALY

    luca.montanarella@jrc.ec.europa.eu