Soil map of Belgium according to the international World Reference Base (WRB) classification system (preliminary version)

The Belgian soil map was drawn up on the basis of the results of intensive soil mapping during the 1950s and 1970s. This Belgian soil map is based on the Belgian soil classification system. It is a national system that has been set up exclusively for Belgian soils. The soil map of Belgium according to the international World Reference Base (WRB) soil classification system is a translation of the soil map according to the Belgian soil classification system. WRB consists of 2 levels of detail: on the one hand the 32 'Reference Soil Groups' (RSGs) and on the other hand a combination of RSGs with prefixes and suffixes, i.e. 'qualifiers', which allow to classify an individual soil profile. By using 'Reference Soil Groups' (colored areas) and 'Main qualifiers' (blue-outlined polygons with labels), the most important information from the soil map of Belgium can be translated into the WRB system. To ensure that the information about texture, drainage and substrates is not lost, 3 more sub-maps have been added: 'Texture map', 'Drainage qualifiers' and 'Abruptic/Ruptic qualifiers'. The 'Texture map' shows the texture class as it appears on the soil map of Belgium. The maps are provisional versions and are the result of the project 'Development and application of a method for converting the Belgian soil map according to the international Word Reference Base system' carried out by S. Dondeyne, J. Deckers and E. Van Ranst of the K.U.Leuven and U.Gent. More explanation can be found in the report of the study (https://www.dov.vlaanderen.be/themas/grond). Comments or suggestions are welcome via dov@vlaanderen.be.