Use of a large world soil database for modeling the global soil distribution.

The ISRIC WISE Global soil database is used to demonstrate the important role that large, properly established soil databases can play in the understanding and modeling of the global distribution of soils and their properties. This database, which contains 4382 georeferenced soil profiles, was systematically examined with respect to 128 environmental regimes, which exhibited combinations of different parent material, climate, and topography. There was generally good correlation of the WRB soil types and key soil properties with these environmental parameters. While most of the results are in accord with the standard theories of soil formation, there are several unexpected findings and subtle complexities that deserve further examination. The results allow for a reflection on soil genesis relationships and provide a useful base for the development of global soil predictive models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]