Tripoli adopted the U.S.A soil classification system for all
future soil survey work. At the same time, they decided to
convert the available soil maps into the U.S.A Soil Taxonomy. Then, the Russian soil taxonomic units done in the
northwest and northeast regions of Libya were converted to
the U.S.A soil taxonomic units (Ben Mahmoud 1995). The
main Libyan soil taxonomic units at soil order and soil
suborder levels which resulted from soil studies are shown in
Table 4.3 and Fig. 4.3 and Fig. 4.4
With the exception of Al Jabal Al Akhdarand Jabal
Nafusa, all Libyan soils taxonomic units are either Entisols
or Aridisols. Alfisols, Mollisols, and Vertisols are only
found in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. Inceptisols are found in both
Al Jabal Al Akhdarand Jabal Nafusa (Ben Mahmoud 1995).
The characteristics and distribution of Libyan soil taxonomic
units on suborder and Great Group levels will be identified
and discussed in Sect. 4.3.
4.3 Soil Taxonomic Units: Their Extent
and Properties
4.3.1 Entisols
This soil order is considered as the most well-known type
among Libyan soils, and it covers a large area in the
northwestern, interior, and southern regions of Libya. Under
this soil order, three suborders can be identified:
Table 4.2 The scheme of soil division into classes, types, subtypes, and genera in northeastern region
Soil type
Soil subtype
Soil genus
Red Ferrisiaallitic
Typical
Carbonate, carbonate saline, carbonate solonetzic-saline, leached, leached saline
Concretionary
carbonate saline, leached, leached saline
Crust
Carbonate, carbonate saline, leached, leached saline
Hydrated
Carbonate, carbonate saline, leached, leached saline
Hydromorphic of a truncated profile
carbonate solonetzic-saline, leached, leached saline
Yellow
Ferrisiaallitic
Typical
leached, leached saline
Concretionary
leached
Siallitic
cinnamon
Typical
Carbonate, carbonate saline, leached
Compact
Carbonate, leached
Rendzinas
Dark
Carbonate, carbonate saline, leached, leached saline
Red
Dark compact
Typical
Carbonate, carbonate saline
Reddish-brown
arid
Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, carbonate solonetzic-saline, leached, leached saline
Differentiated crust
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, Carbonate Gypsic, Carbonate solonetzic,
Carbonate solonetzic-saline
Slightly Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline,
Slightly Differentiated crust
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, Carbonate Gypsic
Reddish-brown
arid
Non-Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline
Hydromorphic crust
Carbonate saline, Carbonate solonetzic-saline
Brown arid
Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, Carbonate solonetzic- saline
Slightly Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline
Alluvial
Differentiated
Carbonate, Carbonate saline
Lithosols
Cinnamonic
Carbonate, Carbonate saline
Reddish-brown
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, Carbonate solonetzic-saline
Brown
Carbonate, Carbonate saline, Carbonate solonetzic-saline
Crusts
Monolithic
Carbonate, Siallitic Carbonate, Siallitic Carbonate saline
Non-Monolithic
Carbonate, Carbonate saline,Siallitic Carbonate, Siallitic Carbonate saline
Solonchaks
Automorphic, Hydromorphic,
Hydromorphic crust, Hydromorphic
Sebeka
52
M. M. Elaalem et al.