Description of representative “in-situ” soil profiles in northwestern Tunisia

Abstract Soil profiling is important for understanding soil evolution in space and time and its ability to deliver ecosystem services. It reflects the soil's physical, chemical, and biological, along with its management history. As a fundamental step in assessing soil health, it helps determine the soil’s potential for the provision of ecosystem services and its suitability for various agricultural and land-use applications. Soil profiling allows for the classification of soil types across different regions, contributing to soil mapping and enabling informed decisions for sustainable soil and land management. This study describes and classifies four soil profiles in Tunisia using the WRB classification system. The main areas of the WRB soil classification are soil Reference Soil Groups (RSG) mainly defined by diagnostic horizons, and qualifiers used to provide additional information about the soil's characteristics. The four soil profiles analyzed are Luvisol, Cambisol, Vertisol, and Fluvisol each exhibiting distinct physical, chemical, and morphological properties. Luvisol in Cap Negro (northern coast) is moderately fertile but vulnerable to erosion, necessitating protection measures. Cambisol in Oued Zarga (northern continental area) supports field crops but faces threats such as soil compaction and erosion, which can be mitigated by reduced tillage and providing soil cover after the harvest. Vertisol in Béja (northern continental area), characterized by high clay shrink-swell activity, is cultivated with winter cereals, where appropriate tillage and irrigation practices help manage soil stability. Lastly, Fluvisol in Oued Meliz (north-western continental area) benefits from high fertility due to alluvial deposits but requires careful water management to erosion. By providing detailed soil classification and management insights, this study contributes to deepen our understanding on soil classification, sustainable land use planning in Tunisia.