2. Types of the soil

Generally, the soil forming factors are parent rock, climate, vegetation, water, relief, time and human. In the territory of the Czech Republic, the altitude (which is basically climate) and diversity of the relief are the most significant factors in spatial diversity of soils. As regards soils, influence of oceanic climate is more distinct than the influence of continental climate. It means that the "humid" soil types (Luvisols, Cambisols) are more frequent than the continental soil types (e.g. Chernozems or Podzols).


They are many types of soil in the Czech Republic but the most abundant are Cambisols, Luvisols and Chernozems (see Fig. 1). Some of them are primarily used as a arable land (Chernozems and Luvisols), other are forest soils (Podzols).

type of soils
Fig. 1. Soil types according to the area covered.


The spatial distribution of some soil types is altitudinal or topographically related. It means that its abundance depends on the climate and climate depends on the altitude or their distribution is connected with a specific position in the relief (e.g. on the crest or in the valley).

Fig. 2. Altitudinal and topographical distribution of soil types in the Czech Republic (see alluvium, colluvium, eluvium).