This harmonized, gridded global data set of soil parameter estimates includes files listing: (1) soil parameter estimates for the component soil units of each terrestrial grid cell, in un-binned format, and (2) soil parameter estimates aggregated or binned into a number of predefined classes. The spatial data, with a resolution of ½ by ½ degree, was derived from the ISRIC-WISE soil database. The land surface between longitudes -180o W and +180o E and latitudes +90o N and -90o S has been characterized using 45948 unique map units; each of these can comprise from one to ten soil units, characterized according to the original legend of the 1:5 million scale Soil Map of the World (FAO-Unesco 1974). Soil parameter estimates for each of these units were derived from analyses of some 9600 profiles held in a working copy of WISE (ver. 2.0). Twenty-two soil variables, identified as being useful for agro-ecological zoning, land evaluation, crop growth simulation, modelling of soil gaseous emissions and analyses of global environmental change, were considered. Parameter estimates for the topsoil (0-30 cm) and the subsoil (30-100 cm) are presented for the following variables: content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, the C/N ratio, pH(H2O), CECsoil, CECclay, base saturation, total exchangeable bases, aluminum saturation, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), electrical conductivity of saturated paste (ECe), calcium carbonate content, gypsum content, content of sand, silt and clay, content of fragments less than 2 mm, bulk density, total porosity. For soil drainage class, effective soil depth, and available water capacity (-10 to -1500 kPa), however, parameter estimates are presented on a profile basis. The parameter estimates - median values - presented here should be seen as best estimates; possible types and sources of uncertainty are discussed in the report. The data are considered appropriate for exploratory studies at global scale (greater than 1:5 000 000). Note: A more recent assessment, at a resolution of 30arcsec (WISE30sec), is available at: http://data.isric.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/dc7b283a-8f19-45e1-aaed-e9bd515119bc

The ISRIC – World Soil Information Soil Data Hub is a central location for searching and downloading soil data from around the world.

ISRIC, is a regular member of the International Science Council (ISC) World Data System. We support Open Data whenever possible, respecting inherited rights (licences).

We make our own soil information products available to data users under Creative Commons licenses (CC BY-NC or CC BY for datasets, and CC BY 4.0 for derived predictions and visualisations). Details are provided in the ISRIC Data and Software Policy.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Please take a look at our collection of soil geographical databases to explore soil data available outside ISRIC-World Soil Information via https://www.isric.org/explore/soil-geographic-databases.

Disclaimer: By using the ISRIC data and web services, the user accepts the ISRIC data and software policy in full. In order to acknowledge the scientists and/or organisations that have provided data or products, ISRIC requests that data users include a bibliographic citation to all materials supplied through ISRIC in output products, websites, and publications.

Version 3.1 of the ISRIC-WISE database (WISE3) was compiled from a wide range of soil profile data collected by many soil professionals worldwide. All profiles have been harmonized with respect to the original Legend (1974) and Revised Legend (1988) of FAO-Unesco. Thereby, the primary soil data ─ and any secondary data derived from them ─ can be linked using GIS to the spatial units of the digitized Soil Map of the World as well as more recent digital Soil and Terrain (SOTER) databases through the soil legend code. WISE3 holds selected attribute data for some 10,250 soil profiles, with some 47,800 horizons, from 149 countries. Individual profiles have been sampled, described, and analyzed according to methods and standards in use in the originating countries. There is no uniform set of properties for which all profiles have analytical data, generally because only selected measurements were planned during the original surveys. Methods used for laboratory determinations of specific soil properties vary between laboratories and over time; sometimes, results for the same property cannot be compared directly. WISE3 will inevitably include gaps, being a compilation of legacy soil data derived from traditional soil survey, which can be of a taxonomic, geographic, and soil analytical nature. As a result, the amount of data available for modelling is sometimes much less than expected. Adroit use of the data, however, will permit a wide range of agricultural and environmental applications at a global and continental scale (1:500 000 and broader). Preferred citation: Batjes NH 2009. Harmonized soil profile data for applications at global and continental scales: updates to the WISE database. Soil Use and Management 5:124–127, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-2743.2009.00202.x

The World Data Centre for Soils (WDC-Soils), hosted by ISRIC World Soil Information since 1989, is a regular member (i.e., node that deals directly with data curation and data analysis services) of the ICSU World Data System. The WDC-Soils collates, maintains and analyzes soil-related collections and also provides information services as custodian of global soil information. Holdings from the WDC-Soils repository can be accessed, in accordance with the access categories agreed with the data providers [http://www.isric.org/about/data-policy], using a range of web facilities and services that provide access to the data, documentation and project-related webpages. All datasets can be accessed freely through our Soil Data Hub (GeoNetwork catalogue, GN3).

Gravimetric content of organic carbon and inorganic carbon in the fine earth fraction* (g/kg). WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts). Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required. Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024. For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

A homogenized, global set of 1,125 soil profiles is presented. These profiles have been extracted from the database developed at ISRIC for a project on "World Inventory of Soil Emission Potentials" (WISE), as a contribution to the activities of the Global Soils Data Task Group of IGBP-DIS. The subset consists of a selection of 665 profiles originating from digital data files released by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, Lincoln), 250 profiles obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, Rome), and 210 profiles from the reference collection of the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC, Wageningen). All profiles are georeferenced and classified in the FAO-Unesco Legend whereby they can be linked to the edited and digital version of the FAO-Unesco Soil Map of the World. This data set is being released in the public domain for use by global modellers and other interested scientists. It is envisaged that the data set will be expanded by ISRIC when new, uniform soil profile data become available.

Note: a) A more recent version (some 10,000 profiles) of WISE profiles is available at: http://data.isric.org/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/a351682c-330a-4995-a5a1-57ad160e621c (2009) b) For a larger compilation see the WoSIS database: http://isric.org/explore/wosis (2017)

Gravimetric content of less than X mm soil material in the fine earth fraction* (e.g. X = 0.002 mm as specified in the analytical method description) (g/100g). WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts). Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required. Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024. For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

The Soil and Terrain Database for Latin America and the Caribbean (SOTERLAC) was created through a joint project involving the Food and Agriculure Organization of the United Nations (FAO) [http://www.fao.org], the International soil Reference Centre (ISRIC) [http://www.isric.org], the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) [http://www.unep.org], and the national governments of Latin America and the Caribbean. This soils database is created using the Soil and Terrain Database (SOTER) methodology to update the 1:5M Soil Map of the World (SMW) of FAO/Unesco.

For the entire project area, a map at scale 1:5 million with SOTER units has been compiled. It has a total of 1490 mapping units, divided over 2823 polygons. The 1490 SOTER units are further defined by 2008 terrain components. Every terrain component consists of one or more soil components, amounting to a total of 3580. Representative soil profiles have been selected for all soil components from a wide range of sources. A total of 1828 soil profiles can be found in the database. The total number of horizons of these profiles is 6525.

For 12 percent of the soil components, no newer information on soils than that could be extracted from the FAO-Unesco SMW was available. These components do not have a profile. This is, for example, the case in a larger part of Chile.

Most attributes in the various tables are complete or nearly so with the exception of bulk density in the horizon table. With only 40% measured, this attribute has the lowest occurrence. Another gap exists in the coordinates of the location of the profiles. In some countries such information could not be found (e.g. Argentina). Other attributes missing are elevation and date of description/sampling.

The map has been drawn on the topography of the original FAO-Unesco SMW as available in digital and hardcopy form. Mapping units (SOTER units have been digitized in ARC/Info) and the attribute data are stored in a relational database system (compatible with most commercial software). A special input software package was compiled for entering attribute data and creating the appropriate tables.

Soil and Terrain Database for Latin America and the Caribbean is provided on CD-ROM by the FAO, Land and Water Digital Media Series. The CD-ROM can be purchased (Price: US$40) from FAO, Sales and Marketing Group, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 0100 Rome, Italy (Fax: +39-06-5705-3360 E-mail: publications-sales@fao.org). The information contained on the CD-ROM can be downloaded from UNEP/GRID at [http://www.na.unep.net/unepdownload/form.php?type=soterlac] and from ISRIC at [http://www.isric.org/UK/About+ISRIC/Projects/Track+Record/SOTERLAC.htm].

Volumetric Water Content at 1500kPa suction in 10-3 cm3cm-3 (0.1 v% or 1 mm/m) at 6 standard depths. Predictions were derived using a digital soil mapping approach based on Quantile Random Forest, drawing on a global compilation of soil profile data and environmental layers. This map is the result of resampling the mean SoilGrids 250 m predictions (Turek et al. 2021) for each 1000 m cell.

Bulk density (fine earth) in cg/cm³ at 6 standard depths. Predictions were derived using a digital soil mapping approach based on Quantile Random Forest, drawing on a global compilation of soil profile data and environmental layers. To visualize these layers please use www.soilgrids.org.

The Soil and Terrain database for Latin America and the Caribbean (SOTERLAC), version 2.0, at scale 1:5 million, replaces version 1.02. The update includes changes in the GIS file and in the attributes database. The topographic base of the SOTERLAC map was adapted to a version congruent to the Digital Chart of the World. The SOTERLAC attribute database has changed in respect to the number of ... pedon attributes that can be stored. Contrary to the preceding, compact version, version 2.0 can accommodate all pedon attributes considered in a 1:1 million scale SOTER database. SOTERLAC forms a part of the ongoing activities of ISRIC, FAO and UNEP to update the world's baseline information on natural resources.The project involved collaboration with national soil institutes from the countries in the region as well as individual experts

Provides key information for all profiles (or point data) in WoSIS latest, including soil classification according to specified edition (year) of the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB, up to qualifier level); FAO-Unesco Legend (up to soil unit level); USDA Soil Taxonomy (up to subgroup level).

WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts).

Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required.

Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024.

For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

Soil organic carbon content (measured by either wet oxidation or dry combustion at 900 C) in g/kg (fine earth) at 6 standard depths predicted using two sets of Africa soil profiles data. For details see published paper here below (Hengl T., G.B.M. Heuvelink, B. Kempen, J.G.B. Leenaars, M.G. Walsh, K.D. Shepherd, A. Sila, R.A. MacMillan, J. Mendes de Jesus, L.T. Desta, J.E. Tondoh, 2015. Mapping Soil Properties of Africa at 250 m Resolution: Random Forests Significantly Improve Current Predictions. PLoS ONE 10(6)

Volumetric content of coarse fragments* in the whole soil (cm³/100cm³). WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts). Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required. Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024. For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

Soil pH x 10 in H2O at 6 standard depths (to convert to pH values divide by 10) predicted using two sets of Africa soil profiles data. Measurement units: NA. For details see published paper here below (Hengl T., G.B.M. Heuvelink, B. Kempen, J.G.B. Leenaars, M.G. Walsh, K.D. Shepherd, A. Sila, R.A. MacMillan, J. Mendes de Jesus, L.T. Desta, J.E. Tondoh, 2015. Mapping Soil Properties of Africa at 250 m Resolution: Random Forests Significantly Improve Current Predictions. PLoS ONE 10(6)

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity in soils, defined as the negative logarithm (base 10) of the activity of hydronium ions (H+) in a NaF solution, as specified in the analytical method descriptions.

WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts).

Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required.

Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024.

For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

The ICRAF-ISRIC Soil VNIR Spectral Library contains visible near infrared spectra of 4,438 soils selected from the Soil Information System (ISIS) of the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC). The samples consist of all physically archived samples at ISRIC in 2004 for which soil attribute data was available. The spectra were measured at the World Agroforestry Center's (ICRAF) Soil and Plant Spectral Diagnostic Laboratory. The samples are from 58 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Associated attribute data, such as geographical coordinates, horizon (depth), and physical and chemical properties, are provided in a single relational database. The purpose of the library is to provide a resource for research and applications for sensing soil quality both in the laboratory and from space. The complete merged database containing both soil and spectral data can be accessed at http://www.africasoils.net/data/spectral-libraries in a zipped Microsoft Access Database (MDB) format and also through a link from http://www.isric.org.

Measured in 1:x soil:water solution (mainly determines P in dissolved forms) (mg/kg). WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts). Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required. Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024. For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.

Measured according to the Bray-I method, a combination of HCl and NH4 F to remove easily acid soluble P forms, largely Al- and Fe-phosphates (for acid soils) (mg/kg). WoSIS_latest is a 'dynamic dataset' that contains the most recent complement of quality-assessed and standardised soil data served from WoSIS (ISRIC World Soil Information Service). The source data were shared by a wide range of data providers (see: https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/wosis-contributing-institutions-and-experts). Being dynamic, the contents of 'wosis_latest' will change once new point data are acquired, cleansed and standardised, additional soil properties are considered, and/or when possible amendments are required. Static snapshots of 'wosis_latest' are released at irregular intervals for consistent citation purposes and to discuss methodological changes; the last snapshot is available at https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-4735-2024. For general information about WoSIS please see the FAQ-page at https://www.isric.org/explore/wosis/faq-wosis.