Abstract
In this chapter, the authors outline the development of historical soil knowledge, education, and research in Libya. In addition, they reviewed the soil institutes and universities conducting research on soil science. This review has shown that Libya's capacity to absorb new technologies is now greater than before. Due to the continuous rise in educational levels, Libya is more integrated than ever in advanced science and technical education systems, competing with more advanced countries in modern technologies. Soil resource studies and mapping in Libya which have been carried out in the last decades have been discussed in detail. Extensive soil studies were given mainly to areas with high and medium potential for agriculture in the northern part of the Libyan Coastal zone and to only small, scattered areas in the southern desert. Research projects in Libya and achievements in the field of Soil Mapping are reviewed at the end of this chapter. Soil taxonomic units of Libya and their major properties are found in Chap. 3.