Soils of Kazakhstan, their distribution and mapping

Abstract

The territory of Kazakhstan is situated in the centre of the Eurasian continent and extends from 41° to 55° N and from 46° to 87° E. Its landscapes are diverse, with a great variety of climates and forms of relief (from high mountains to desert plains). The soil formation is based on the principles of latitudinal (horizontal) and vertical zonalities. The geographic soil zones in Kazakhstan from north to south are: forest-steppe, steppe, desert-steppe, and desert, where zones are classified according to the types of soil. This article characterises the natural zonality of Kazakhstan’s soils and orographic-climatic regions with a spectrum of zones and belts (Altay, North Tien-Shan, West Tien-Shan). For this characteristic of the regions and belts, including the basic climatic indexes, the type of vegetation can be used as a classification criterion. The resulting vertical distribution of soil types and subtypes will be shown. Soil mapping forms a basis for research work in various directions of soil science. Soil maps can be used to ascertain the genesis of soils and create new taxonomic classification approaches. They can also be applied for agro-industrial suitability planning, land reclamation, the estimation of soil degradation etc. Our chapter shows what methods are used to create modern soil maps, based on the application of GIS technologies, field and laboratory analytical work and the utilization of space images for the classification and delineation of soil units. Examples of applied thematic maps are shown, along with the approaches used to create them. Those maps allow terrain and land resources to be estimated and the state of the soil mantle to be monitored as a result of natural and human impacts. They are useful for the quantification of soil functions, such as productivity potential, or for the allocation of protected areas. All these maps allow measures for the restoration and sustainable development of landscapes to be developed.