SOIL COUNTRY FILES

(26/03/2021)

A summary of soil related issues and trends based on the analysis of a range of datasets providing a comparable perspective across the European Union (EU). It should be noted that the information displayed in these  fact sheets may differ from data collected by the Member State, which reflect different spatial detail, methodologies (e.g. monitoring v modelling) or timeframes. The country files were prepared by JRC in support of DG ENV which proposed it to DG AGRI so they could be used in the preparation of CAP National Plans.

Each country fact sheet contains data on:

  • the main use of soils
    • UAA (Million ha)  (Utilised Agricultural Area)
    • UAA as % of land    
    • Arable (% UAA)    
    • Organic (% UAA)    
    • Permanent (% UAA)    
    • Grassland (% UAA)    
    • Woodland (% UAA)    
    • Artificial (%)   (*)     
    • Irrigation (% UAA)    (**)
  • soil erosion by water (***)
    • 3 maps:
      • Mean soil erosion by water (2016) (t ha-1 yr-1) at NUTS3, for all lands, for 2016
      • Mean soil erosion by water (2016) (t ha-1 yr-1) at NUTS2, for arable land, for 2016
      • % total agricultural land with severe erosion (> 11 t ha-1 yr-1) at NUTS3, for 2016
    • numbers for:
      • Mean soil erosion by water (2016) (t ha-1 yr-1)
      • Highest mean rate (t ha-1 yr-1): 28.18 (at NUTS2 level), for 2016
      • Short-term trend (% per decade), 2016 compared to 2010
      • % agricultural land with moderate-severe erosion (EU)
      • % arable/perm. crops with moderate-severe erosion (EU)
      • % grassland with moderate-severe erosion (EU)
  • soil organic carbon stocks   (****)
    • 2 maps:
      • SOC stocks for 2015 in croplands (t/ha)
      • SOC stocks change in croplands (t/ha) 2009-2015, at NUTS2
    • numbers for:
      • Cumulative soil organic carbon stocks – arable (Mt)
      • Cumulative soil organic carbon stocks – grassland (Mt)
      • Change in arable stocks 2009-2015 (Mt)
      • Change in grassland stocks 2009-2015 (Mt)
  • soil sealing (*****)

The underlying data come from:

Fact sheets: (dated 26/03/2021)

All fact sheets zipped together: soil country files.zip