The map shows the dominant WRB Reference Soil Groups for Africa. The map is a revised representation of the African part of the Digital Soil Map of the World produced by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The map clearly shows the zonal arrangement of soils in Africa. The central, wetter part is dominated by Ferralsols, depicted in brown-orange. They are associated with Acrisols (orange-brown). Towards drier parts, Lixisols start to appear (pale pink). In West Africa large areas of Plinthosols occur (dark brown), mainly as hardened surface layers or cuirasses.
The desert regions in the north and the south are dominated by Calcisols (bright yellow), Leptosols (shallow soils depicted in grey), Regosols (pale pink), Arenosols (brownish yellow) and Gypsisols (pale yellow). Very locally, especially in southern Africa, Durisols (pinkish grey) occur.
The dark purple colour on the map, mainly in Sudan and Ethiopia, indicate Vertisols whereas the bright red colours depict the dominance of Andosols, mostly associated with the African Rift valley. This is also where most of Africa’s Nitisols are found (dark pink).
In the Mediterranean region pale brown and brown colours indicate areas of, respectively, Kastanozems and Phaeozems. Gleysols (dark blue) and Fluvisols (bright blue) are found throughout the map, the latter associated with Africa’s river systems and deltas. Solonchaks (purple) and Solonetz (light purple) are mainly associated with coastal plains. Alisols (very pale yellow), Cambisols (orange), Histosols (dark grey), Luvisols (dark pink), Planosols (dark orange), Podzols (green) and Umbrisols (dark green) are scattered throughout the map and can be locally important.
In urbanised areas and near large mines, Technosols (highly disturbed soils) may occur. However, most of these areas will be too small to be visible at this continental scale.