The Soils of Greece

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Frontmatter

2. Chapter 1. Introduction

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Agriculture has been a significant sector of the Greek economy from the ancient times to date. Agriculture in ancient Greece was praised and clearly contrasted with other economic activities. Already since 390 B.C., the Athenian historian Xenophon in its very famous work Economics (in Greek “Oikonomikos”) suggested that agriculture contributes substantially to the growth of the whole economic system, providing to the people and the societies not only economic wealth but also stimulation of the spiritual well-being.

3. Chapter 2. Soil-Forming Factors

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Soil-forming factors affect not only the course of the genesis processes but also the present and future performance of the soil systems. A brief evaluation of these factors and of their influence on the soils of Greece is presented in this section. The properties described below refer to climax undisturbed soil profiles developed under natural vegetation, which has not been disturbed to a degree that would lead to the truncation of the soil profile by erosion. It must be pointed out, however, that these conditions do not prevail in the sloping landscapes of Greece.

4. Chapter 3. Soil Classification

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Various soil classification schemes have been applied since the first decades on the twentieth century. Zvorykin Russian soil scientist cooperating with Greek colleagues were the first to apply a systematic soil classification and mapping employing the Russian system of soil classification (Nevros and Zvorykin 1937; Zvorikin and Vrisimidji 1947).

5. Chapter 4. Residual Soils on Mountains and Hills

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Residual soils formed on mountains and hills occupy the 62.6% of the total area of the country. Their classification, morphology, and properties are strongly related to geomorphology, surface geology, and climate as described above.

6. Chapter 5. Colluvial Soils

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Colluvial soils consist of locally transported detritus materials of soil horizons and parent materials of sloping terrains from the upper sections of the slopes through water erosion or landslides. They have been deposited at the foot of the slope or at various parts of it, where the local relief impedes the further surface flow of the detritus material.

7. Chapter 6. Soils on Clay Deposits and Conglomerates

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   Clay deposits of Quaternary and Tertiary ages were erodible residual soil and geological materials, which have been transported from original multiple local watersheds and deposited on lower lands.

8. Chapter 7. Recent Lacustrine and Organic Soils

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   The lacustrine mineral and organic soils discussed in this section belong to lands, formed in recent lake beds and river deltas. These landforms frequently coexist with recent alluvial deposits. They belong to the lowest toposequence and youngest chronosequence of allochthonous soils of the country. Geomorphologically, these are parts of recent coastal or inland flood plains, at elevations not exceeding the 20 m from them.

9. Chapter 8. Soils on Alluvial Deposits

   Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

   Abstract

   The dominant soil-forming factors that strongly affect the properties, functions, and productivity of the alluvial soils are the intense stratification of their parent material, its textural configuration and composition, the age of the soils, which is related to the topographic location on the successive terraces and the climate.

10. Chapter 9. Specific Characteristics of Alluvial Soils

    Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

    Abstract

    Soils on Holocene alluvium are classified as Fluvents (Fluvisols), as it was referred above these soils including the most productive agricultural soils covering about 13% of the total area of Greece.

11. Chapter 10. Land Degradation and Desertification

    Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

    Abstract

    Yassoglou (1986), reported in the European Communities Berlin Symposium on the Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community, that soil erosion is the dominant degradation process in southern Europe related to soil productivity deterioration.

12. Chapter 11. Soil Research

    Nicholas Yassoglou, Christos Tsadilas, Costas Kosmas

    Abstract

    Greek people had been observing the properties and the functions and the benefits of soil Gaia (Γη) since the classical times. They had developed appropriate systems and practices for sustainable land use based on the evaluation of land capability.

13. Backmatter