Comparative Assessment of Digital and Conventional Soil Mapping: A Case Study of the Southern Cis-Ural Region, Russia

Digital mapping was applied for a key site located at the Southern Cis-Ural region near Ufa city (the Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia). The digital soil map (DSM) created using open-source GIS software packages and compared to conventional (CSM) one. As input parameters, we used standard morphometric values topography field descriptions soils, including authors’ data. DSM same scale (1:25,000) as CSM, soils different classes were grouped according principle genetic homogeneity regional agroecological value. Comparing CSM showed several significant differences in position, areas, boundaries hydromorphic chernozems. has advantages over estimating smaller areas (areals) their boundaries, particular, on elevated elements (hills steep slopes) upper links erosion network (small dry valleys, hollows, gullies). On other hand, fluvial are mapped rather poorly by approach, is more appropriate such soils’ areals. highest discrepancy confined eroded fluvisols (15% 12% total area, respectively) due approaches groups. We suppose that method effective suitable region, despite 57% taxa (types) prediction accuracy complexity territory its ruggedness, erosion, suffusion processes. implementation further use methods increase quality work, reduce cost terms region.