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AGRICULTURAE
CONSPECTUS SCIENTIFICUS
Vol. 63, No. 3, 1998 (169-177)
ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC
PAPER
Evaluation of Soil Suitability for Regional Planning in Croatia
Ž. VIDAČEK
M. BOGUNOVIĆ
M. SRAKA
S. HUSNJAK
SUMMARY
Soil suitability map
with scale of 1:300 000 have been printed in the Republic of Croatia first
time, based on the data of Basic Soil Map with scale of 1:50 000 and other
cartographical surveys, made in the last 30 years. A group of authors
has made an evaluation of soil cultivation suitability in accordance with
the modified criteria of land evaluation (FAO, 1976. and Ž.Vidaček, 1976
and 1981). A total of 65 soil units of automorphic, hydromorphic, halomorphic
and subaqual soils have been evaluated according to the suitability degree
and to dominating kinds of limitations for an intensive use in agriculture,
respectively. As per suitability degree, possibilities of use, needs of
land reclamation and protection there are in Croatia 25657,55 km 2 or
53,8% soils of different suitability classes (suitable, moderately suitable,
restricted suitable), 6880.27 km 2 or 14,4% temporarily unsuitable and
even 15181.43 km 2 or 31,8% soils permanently unsuitable for an intensive
use in agricultural production. Rocky surfaces mainly located in the Karst
areas cover 7964.55 km 2 . Soil suitability map for cultivation has multiple
significance. At national and regional level, it can serve for planning
of a sustainable development and protection, as well as cultivation of
land, then as a base for development of agriculture and forestry, for
regional planning, protection of human environment, making of projects
for main roads, gas pipelines, waterworks and other urban and industrial
plants. Therefore, protection of soil shuld not be in compentence of one
user only, but of all those who must keep in mind that a sustainable use
and well organized protection of soil is a base for human existence.
KEY WORDS
land evaluation,
land use, soil protection, soil suitability
Soil
Science Department
Faculty of Agriculture University of Zagreb
Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Received: April 17, 1998
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