Classification | Characteristics | Use | Site Properties and Vegetation | |
WRBS | Kubiena | |||
Arenosol* | Carbonate Raw Soil Ramla Series * (RS) | A sandy soil with no aggregation and poor water holding capacity. | Cultivated | Part of a sand dune that during the time of the study period and before was used as an orchard. |
Regosol | Carbonate Raw Soil San Lawrenz Series (SLS) | A clay soil originating from Blue clay parent material. It contains lithosolic colluvium material that originates from a coralline limestone stratum situated above the clay. The cultivated and the uncultivated sites were 800 m apart. | Cultivated | A rain-irrigated site that for the past 50 years has only been used to cultivate Triticum aestivum or occasionally Hedysarum coronarium. |
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| Uncultivated | A wood planted in the late 1600. The sampled area is dominated by Populus alba and short grass and shrubs. Due to the high clay content, the soil on site is moderately compacted. | |
Vertisol | Carbonate Raw Soil Fiddien Series (FS) | A heavy textured clay soil that is developed directly on Blue clay deposits. Unlike the SLS soil, this soil shows very little variation from the clay parent material. The cultivated and the uncultivated sites were 300 m apart. | Cultivated | Situated at the foot of the uncultivated FS slope. It is non-irrigated and is usually used to cultivate Solanum lycopersicum and other seasonal crops. |
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| Uncultivated | An East-facing slope that carries long grass type vegetation together with a number of Eucalyptus tereticornis trees. | |
Calcisol | Xerorendzina San Biagio Series (SBS) | A silty clay loam originating from the upper and middle layers of the globigerina limestone strata. The soil is not much differentiated from the surface to the bedrock and is greyish white in colour. The cultivated and the uncultivated sites were 500 m apart. | Cultivated | A non-irrigated site that is used mainly for the cultivation of T. aestivum and occasionally H. coronarium, Vicia faba and Hordeum vulgare. |
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| Uncultivated | A disused airfield that was converted into and used as a recreational park for the past 50 years. The vegetation is sparse and consists mainly of short grasses. The soil is hard and compacted in most places. | |
Luvisol* | Xerorendzina Tal-Barrani Series * (TBS) | A clay loam that is similar to the Terra Rossa soils but not as much developed. | Cultivated | An irrigated site extensively cultivated with a variety of crops all year round. S. tuberosum and S. lycopersicum are most commonly cultivated. |
Luvisol* | Terra Rossa Tas-Sigra Series * (TS) | A heavy textured clay loam. Compared to the rest of the soils these are relatively decalcified and more mature. | Cultivated | An irrigated site used all year round mainly for the cultivation of S. tuberosum. |
Leptosol | Terra Rossa Tax-Xaghra Series (TXS) | A typical clay loam Terra Rossa soil. The soils are stony and shallow. The cultivated and the uncultivated sites were 7000 m apart. | Cultivated | A non-irrigated site generally used to grow T. aestivum, and occasionally S. tuberosum and V. faba. |
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| Uncultivated | An exposed site carrying grasses and xerophytes. |