Soils of Barbués and Torres de Barbués, Ebro Basin, NE Spain

Abstract

Irrigation is needed for profitable agriculture in the central Ebro valley, one of the driest regions in Europe. In this region, aridity and outcrops of saliferous strata induce soil salinity in some irrigated districts. We present a soil map of two municipalities (about 32 km2) coping with soil salinity and currently changing their irrigation from flood to pressurized systems. The 1:25,000 scale map displays 27 Soil Series following the Soil Taxonomy approach and records local pedodiversity for the first time. The scale of the map and its delineation on orthophotographs enables users to locate each agricultural plot (typical size ∼1 ha) and to assign the soil information relevant for irrigation, and then a Soil Phase for salinity. Saline soils occur in irrigated areas totaling 24% of the total surface of the two municipalities studied. The salinity mapping plus other soil features used for map unit definition (texture, stoniness, and available water holding capacity), allow recommendations about the design of irrigation system enhancements.