The domenant soil subgroups in the republic of Yemen their characteristics and occurrence

الملخص EN

In the studied area four major climatic types were distinguished according to the application of the Thorntwaite method of the climate classification, those climatic types are: Aridic, Semearidic, Tropical sub humid and Tropical humid.

Regarding the geology of the studied area, four geological zones were determined as follow: Precambrian shield, Sedimentary rocks, Tertiary and quaternary volcanic and Quaternary alluvial deposits.

Concerning the natural vegetation of the studied area, five natural vegetation types were recognized as follow: ? Maritime Vegetation ? Desert Vegetation.

? Savanna Bush land.

? Mountain Vegetation.

? Wadies and drainage group.

By applying the scientific methodology of soil classification (Soil Taxonomy) on the selected, analytical data and morphological characteristics ; interpretation and extrapolation of satellite images for the delineation of soil subgroups boundaries, a seven dominant soil subgroups had been classified as follow: ? Typic Calciorthids.

? Typic Torriorthents.

? Typic Ustorthents.

? Typic Ustifluvents.

? Typic Ustropepts.

? Typic Haplustolls.

? Rock outcrops.

The characteristics, percentage and occurrence of the investigated soil subgroups are represented in table seven