SML soil descriptors

In accordance with Article 9 of the SML (Measurement and methodologies), this page provides access to relevant data of soil descriptors and data linked to sampling points collected under previous LUCAS Soil Modules (i.e., 2009/2012, 2015, 2018 and eventually 2022).
Resource Type: 
Datasets
Registration is requested: 
No
Year: 
2026

Title: SML Article 9 support from the European Commission.
Description: In accordance with Article 9 of the SML (Measurement and methodologies), this page provides access to relevant data of soil descriptors and data linked to sampling points collected under previous LUCAS Soil Modules (i.e., 2009/2012, 2015, 2018 and eventually 2022).

The data listed on this page are provided to assist Member States in determining the number and  location of sampling points reflecting the methodology set out in Annex II, Part A of the SML.

Title: SML Article 9 support from Commission.
Description: In accordance with Article 9 of the SML (Measurement and methodologies), this page provides access to relevant data of soil descriptors and data linked to sampling points collected under previous LUCAS Soil Modules (i.e., 2009/2012, 2015, 2018 and eventually 2022).

The data listed on this page are provided to assist Member States in determining the number and  location of sampling points reflecting the methodology set out in Annex II, Part A of the SML.
 

Pan-EU data describing the soil descriptors listed in Annex I of the directive

Part A

Salinisation

Electrical conductivity saturated soil paste extract (deci-Siemens per meter)

Under review – not currently available

 

Electrical conductivity equivalent (deci-Siemens per meter)

 

Loss of SOC

SOC C from LUCAS 2018 (g per kg)

ESDAC link

Clay from LUCAS 2018 (%)

ESDAC link

SOC/Clay + Correction

Under review – not currently available

Subsoil compaction

 

 

Bulk density in subsoil (g per cm3)

Not available (no data)

Saturated hydraulic conductivity – Ksat (cm per day) from 3D Soil Hydraulic Database of Europe at 1 km and 250 m resolution

ESDAC link

Air capacity (%) ≥ 10 cm/day

Not available (no data)

Part B

Soil erosion

Soil erosion by water (tonnes per hectare per year)

ESDAC link

Soil erosion by wind (tonnes per hectare per year)

ESDAC link

Soil erosion by tillage (tonnes per hectare per year)

ESDAC link

Soil erosion by crop harvest (tonnes per hectare per year)

ESDAC link

Contamination (metals)

Concentration of As (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Sb (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Cd (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Co (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Cr (total) (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Cu (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Hg (µg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Pb (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Ni (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Tl (mg per kg) from Geochemical Atlas of Europe

Foregsatlas

Concentration of V (mg per kg)

ESDAC link

Concentration of Zn (mg per kg) from LUCAS 2009/2012

ESDAC link

Contamination (organics)

Concentration of residues of active ingredients from LUCAS 2018

ESDAC

Ecological risk of pesticide residuesNot currently available

PFAS

Not currently available

Reduction of soil water retention and infiltration

Soil water holding capacity (% of water per total soil volume/mass) from Maps of indicators of soil hydraulic properties for Europe

ESDAC link

Ksat - saturated hydraulic conductivity (cm per day) from 3D Soil Hydraulic Database of Europe at 1 km and 250 m resolutionESDAC link
Air capacity (%)
Not currently available
Loss of SOC
SOC stocks (tC per ha)ESDAC link
SOC content (g per kg)ESDAC link
SOC changes 2009-2018 (cropland and grassland)ESDAC link

Part C

Excess nutrient content in soil

Total nitrogen content (mg per g) 
ESDAC link
C-N ratioESDAC link
AcidificationSoil acidity (pH in H20)ESDAC link
Soil acidity (pH in CaCl2) ESDAC link
Base saturation (1:1M Raster for dominant soils)ESDAC link
Effective cation exchange capacity from LUCAS 2009/2012ESDAC link

Topsoil compaction

Bulk density in topsoil (g per cm3) from LUCAS 2018ESDAC link
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (cm per day)ESDAC link (being prepared)
Air capacity (%) Not currently available

Loss of soil biodiversity

DNA metabarcoding for fungi ESDAC link
(being prepared)
DNA metabarcoding for bacteriaESDAC link
(being prepared)
DNA metabarcoding of archaea, protists and animalsESDAC link
(being prepared)
Soil basal respirationESDAC link
Soil contaminationConcentrations of PFAS-21Not currently available
Concentrations of PFAS-43 Not currently available
Concentrations or presence of a selection of other emerging soil contaminantsNot currently available

 

Sampling point collected under previous LUCAS Soil Module

2009/2012Percentage of coarse fragments, particle size distribution (% clay, silt and sand content), pH (in CaCl2 and H2O), organic carbon (g/kg), carbonate content (g/kg), phosphorous content (mg/kg), total nitrogen content (g/kg), extractable potassium
content (mg/kg), cation exchange capacity (cmol(+)/k		ESDAC link
2015Percentage of coarse fragments, particle size distribution for new points (% clay, silt and sand content), pH (in CaCl2 and H2O), electrical conductivity (dS/m), organic carbon (g/kg), carbonate content (g/kg), phosphorous content (mg/kg), total nitrogen content (g/kg), extractable potassium content (mg/kg)ESDAC link
2018Percentage of coarse fragments, particle size distribution for new points (% clay, silt and sand content), pH (in CaCl2 and H2O), electrical conductivity (dS/m), organic carbon (g/kg), carbonate content (g/kg), phosphorous content (mg/kg), total nitrogen content (g/kg), extractable potassium content (mg/kg), bulk density (subset) See soil descriptors for metals and eDNA data (only for limited subset of samples)ESDAC link
2022Percentage of coarse fragments, particle size distribution (% clay, silt and sand content), pH (in CaCl2 and H2O), organic carbon (g/kg), carbonate content (g/kg), phosphorous content (mg/kg), total nitrogen content (g/kg), extractable potassium content (mg/kg), bulk density (subset), OC for litter Metals (digestions x acqua regia, dilute nitric acid and diluted salt solutions) eDNA (subset)Will become progressively available on ESDAC during 2026

 

To view a wider selection of ESDAC datasets click here 

For any problem / question / comment on this dataset, please contact ec-esdac@ec.europa.eu

Notification:

  • The data provided has been prepared for use by internal research activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The data on this page are proposed for determining the location of sampling points reflecting the stratified random sampling approachthat is specified in Article 9 of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Law. The datasets are available also through other pages of ESDAC where full documentation, auxiliary data and metadata are available.
  • The data are the result of JRC research activities and are  made available for further research. The JRC does not accept any liability whatsoever for any error, missing data or omission in the data, or for any loss or damage arising from its use. The JRC agrees to provide the data free of charge but is not bound to justify the content and values contained in the databases.
  • The permission to use the data specified above is granted on condition that, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES are these data passed to third parties. They can be used for any purpose, including commercial gain.
  • The user agrees to:
       a) Make proper reference to the source of the data when disseminating the results to which this agreement relates;
       b) Participate in the verification of the data (e.g. by noting and reporting any errors or omissions discovered to the JRC).

Reference of source (Citations) :

Panagos, P., Broothaerts, N., Ballabio, C., Orgiazzi, A., De Rosa, D., Borrelli, P., Liakos, L., Vieira, D., Van Eynde, E., Arias Navarro, C., Breure, T., Fendrich, A., Köninger, J., Labouyrie, M., Matthews, F., Muntwyler, A., Jimenez, J.M., Wojda, P., Yunta, F., Marechal, A., Sala, S., Jones, A., 2024. How the EU Soil Observatory is providing solid science for healthy soils. European Journal of Soil Science,  75(3), e13507. doi: 10.1111/ejss.13507

When making reference to the ESDAC

  • Panagos, P., Van Liedekerke, M., Borrelli, P., Köninger, J., Ballabio, C., Orgiazzi, A., Lugato, E., Liakos, L., Hervas, J., Jones, A.  Montanarella, L. 2022. European Soil Data Centre 2.0: Soil data and knowledge in support of the EU policies. European Journal of Soil Science, 73(6), e13315. DOI: 10.1111/ejss.13315
  • Panagos P., Van Liedekerke M., Jones A., Montanarella L., “European Soil Data Centre: Response to European policy support and public data requirements”; (2012) Land Use Policy, 29 (2), pp. 329-338. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.07.003
  • European Soil Data Centre (ESDAC), esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu, European Commission, Joint Research Centre