Agricultural suitability and land use of chernozems in Poland

Abstract The purpose of the paper was the description of classification of chernozems applied in agriculture, the agricultural suitability of these soils, as well as processes contributing to their degradation. The study showed that the principles of chernozems classification into subtypes and varieties have not changed significantly since the introduction of the bonitation classification and legend of the soil-agricultural map. Lower-order units in chernozems type include typical and degraded chernozems considering deluvial varieties for both units. Chernozems are one of the most fertile soils in Poland, mostly classified from I to III bonitation classes and 1, 2 and 8 of the soil suitability complex. They constitute only 0.8% of the total area of the country, and their largest areas are located in : Opolskie, Świętokrzyskie and Lubelskie Voivodeships. Intensive agricultural use causes that chernozems are subject to progressive degradation mainly due to plaugh and water erosion as well as acidification of the crop layer.