Soils

		Very few studies have been carried out regarding soil formation in the Maltese Islands but it is evident that the deficiency of organic matter in the various soil types on the Islands has led farmers to apply additional fertilizers in order to sustain a sufficient yield. The recent MALSIS (Maltese Soil Information System) has improved existing knowledge on soil structures and the role it plays in mineral transfers, chemical transformations and even physical properties of the soil body. Prior to the MALSIS study, Lang (1960) had carried out an extensive soil survey of the Maltese Islands and classified Maltese soils as we know them to this very day:
Vine field, North Malta

Soil Type	Soil Sub group	Characteristics
Carbonate Raw Soils	The Ramla Series The Nadur Series The Fiddien Series The San Lawrenz Series The Rdum Sequence	immature high calcium content and low in organic matter develop on Blue Clay, Greensands, lower beds of Upper coralline and on Globigerina, and on weathered quaternary deposits
Xerorendzinas	The San Biagio Series The Alcol Series The Tal Barrani Series	immature high calcium carbonate content and low in organic matter develop on weathered Globigerina and limestone deposits
Terra Soils	The Xaghra series The Tas-Sigra Series Armier Complex	relic soils formed during the Pleistocene Mature and extensively weathered low in calcium carbonate content and low in organic matter develop on karstland
Disturbed Soils	L'Inglin Complex The Tad-Dawl Complex

Malta Focal Point Last update: September, 2007