Abstract
As mentioned in Chap. 3, soils and their properties in Libya are influenced to the great extent by nature and conditions in which these soils were formed. Hence, the types of soil formed in Libya differ from one place to another, and this difference is related to the diversity in the factors responsible for soil formation. In this chapter, we discussed the most common Soil Classification Units found in the country and reviewed the main properties of the Libyan soils. As mentioned also in Chap. 2, Many soil studies have been carried out in Libya over the last four decades. These soil survey reports differ in their contents, types of maps, the scale of mapping, classification systems, methods of soil analysis, and the criteria on which the interpretation of data is based. The major soil classification systems used in Libya are the Russian soil classification system, the U.S.A Soil Taxonomy, and the FAO soil classification system. In the early 1990s, Libyan soil experts decided to adopt the U.S. A. Soil Taxonomy for future soil survey work and converted the names of soil taxonomic units from the Russian soil classification system to the U.S.A. one. The taxonomic units for the Libyan soils were discussed according to the Russian and U.S.A soil classification systems. According to the U.S.A. Soil Taxonomy, Soil Taxonomic Units of Libya are either Entisols or Aridisols. Alfisols, Mollisols, and Vertisols can only be found in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. Inceptisols are placed in both Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Jabal Nafusa. Soil Properties of the main soil taxonomic units at the great group levels were also discussed. The major soil limiting factors that are risking the agricultural activities in the country were also defined and will be discussed further in the next chapter.