Organic matter content in upper soils of Germany 1:1,000,000

The map of organic matter levels in upper soils of Germany 1:1,000,000 visualises the results of the Germany-wide compilation of typical organic matter contents of the upper soils differentiated according to 15 soil starting rock groups, land use and four climate regions. The analysis is based on more than 9000 soil profiles, for which quality-assured data on organic matter from a twenty-year period were available. The methodological approach is documented in the report ‘Contents of organic matter in upper soils of Germany’, BGR Archiv, No. 0127036. The classes shown in the map correspond to the class classification in the soil carting instruction (KA5), where the classes h2–h5 of the KA5 were divided in the middle of the class. Thus, the card gives a more differentiated picture, especially in low grades.