The soil cover in Ukraine is characterized by great diversity due to a wide range of soil-forming factors (climatic, geomorphologic, etc.). About 5 000 soil varieties have been identified, which are united in types and subtypes given below.

Chernozems podzolized, chernozems typical, chernozems ordinary (Chernozems Chernic). These soils prevail on a considerable area of the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones. Formed mainly on loess deposits that cover almost entirely the interfluvial plateaus and upper fluvial terraces, they have granulometric composition ranging from coarse silt and light loamy in the north to heavy loamy and light clay in the south. Subsoil water occurs, as a rule, at the depth of more than 5 m and does not influence the soil formation. The thickness of the humus stratum varies from 70 to 120 cm. The humus content in the upper horizon of low-humus variety is 3.5–5.5%, and in the medium-humus, 5.5–6.5%. The latter are most typical of eastern regions of the Forest-Steppe and the Steppe. The reaction of the soil solution is subacid or near to neutral. Hydrophysical properties are favourable for agriculture. The moisture content is subject to considerable seasonal and annual fluctuations except for the Western Forest-Steppe, where the moisture deficit occurs only during some years. The above-mentioned soils have high potential fertility and are suitable for growing the majority of cultures recommended for the temperate zone.

Chernozems southern (Chernozems Calcis). Spread in the Southern Steppe zone. Formed on loesses of watershed plateaus, slopes, and ancient terraces. The humus horizon usually reaches 50–55 cm and its surface layer contains 3.5–4.0% of humus in low-humus varieties and up to 3% in weakly-humus types. Carbonates in the form of mycelium are found beginning from the depth of 0.5 m, acquiring the shape of loess dolls at the depth of 80–120 cm.

Chernozems mainly solonetzic on heavy clays (Chernozems Luvic). Form on clays, often saline, which leads to the development of the solonetz process. In comparison with the above-mentioned chernozems, they contain less humus and have worse water-physical and physicochemical properties.

Light grey, grey, and dark grey podzolized soils (Phaeozems Albic). The most widespread, after chernozems, soils of the Forest-Steppe. Lie on the watershed plateaus (within Polissia – on forest islands). Have distinct profile differentiation by the eluvial-illuvial pattern. The reaction of the soil solution is acid, fulvic acids prevail in the humus composition. Poor in nutrients, the soils have degraded physical properties. Agricultural crops raised on these soils react well to the application of fertilizers (organic above all) and liming.

Gleyic varieties of podzolized soils (Phaeozems Gleyic). Occur in the poorly drained areas, in the places of high level of subsoil water (2–3 m). Form on loess-like rocks. Differentiated by eluvial-illuvial pattern. Are characterized by certain negative qualities – overcompaction, poor structural, poor aeration, excessive acidity, and low level of absorbed cation saturation.

Sod-low podzolic sandy and clay sandy soils (Albeluvisols Umbric). Are most widespread in Polissia. They occur mainly on light fluvioglacial and ancient alluvial deposits of outwash plains and ancient terraces. In some places they are underlain by moraine and products of weathering of carbonate and magmatic rocks. Sandy varieties, as a rule, are found on hilly elevations of aeolian origin. They have a shallow humus horizon, small humus content (0.6–0.9%), low absorptivity and moisture retention capacity, are unsaturated with bases and poor in nutritive elements, hence low productivity yields. However, under appropriate agrotechnics they yield quite good harvests of potato and winter rye. Loose-sandy varieties are non-arable and are lands of forestation purpose.

Sod-medium podzolic loamy sand soils (Albeluvisols Umbric). Are characterized by more distinct differentiation of the profile, in which eluvial and illuvial horizons are well marked, by a slightly higher humus content (0.8–1.3%), and better hydrophysical properties. This makes them suitable for growing of more exigent cultures, in particular, flax.

Sod-weakly podzolic and sod medium-podzolic gleyed soils (Albeluvisols Gleyic). Spread on the depressed elements of the relief with near occurrence of soil water. Characterized by soil gleization. The higher is the intensity of gleization and the greater part of the profile it covers, the worse are agronomic characteristics of these soils.

Sod-medium podzolic and strong-podzolic surface-gleyed soils of the Precarpathian area (Albeluvisols Stagnic). Spread on elevated ovaloid plains and slopes in the conditions of excessive atmospheric moisturing (above 700 mm of precipitations annually). Their profile clearly differentiates into humus-eluvial, eluvial, and illuvial horizons. The latter layer is dense and impervious, which results in surface gleization. The reaction of the soil solution is extremely acid. They need the regulation of water regime, liming, and fertilizers application.

Dark-chestnut residual solonetzic soils (Kastanozems Haplic). Spread on the greater part of the Dry Steppe, mainly on loesses. The humus profile reaches 50–55 cm (humus content is 2.5–3%). Carbonates lie at the depth of 45–50 cm in the form of loess dolls, as a rule are not salinized to the depth of 1.5 m. Calcium dominates in the composition of exchangeable cations. The content of exchangeable sodium does not exceed 0.1–0.5 mg equivalent per 100 g of soil, but upon irrigation, it increases, which results in secondary alkalinization, therefore prophylactic anti-alkalinization measures are necessary.

Dark-chestnut alkaline, chestnut alkaline soils (Kastanozems Luvic). Take up a narrow strap of the Dry Steppe on the left bank of the Dnipro. The thickness of the humus layer is 50 cm, of chestnuts soils – 25–30 cm. Have distinct eluvial-illuvial differentiation of the profile. In agronomic sense are worse than the above-mentioned.

Sod sandy and clay-sandy gleyed soils (Arenosols Protic). Formed mainly on alluvial deposits in river floodplains, as well as fluvioglacial rocks of outwash depressions. Have features of gleization and divide into gleyed, gleic and surface-gleyed. The humus content ranges mainly from 1.3 to 2.0%. Have poor physical properties.

Sod sandy and clay-sandy soils and low-humus ungleyed sands (Arenosols Haplic). Spread on washout plains, sandy river terraces, newly-made by wind fluvioglacial and ancient alluvial sands. The thickness of the humus layer of underdeveloped sandy soils is no more than 20 cm, of developed – 40–50 cm. The humus content in sandy soils is 0.2–0.5%, in clay-sandy – 0.8–1.5%. The water regime is unsteady because of high permeability. Exceptionally vulnerable are poorly sodded sands that practically have no humus horizon and are susceptible to deflation. Their use in the structure of agricultural lands is unrewarding.

Rendzinas (Leptosols Rendzic). Found on exposures of chalk marl rocks. The humus horizon reaches 20–40 cm with the humus content to 3.5%. Water-physical and physicochemical properties are rather favourable for agriculture. Belong to fertile soils, on which high harvests of numerous agricultural crops can be obtained, except for flax, hemp, hop, and some horticultural crops.

Meadow-chernozem soils (Phaeozems Haplic). Spread on lower levels of loess terraces, in gully bottoms, on high-level floodplains. Pedogenic rocks are mainly loess-like loams. They are, as a rule, gleyed beginning from the depth of 120–140 m. Are characterized by a thick humus profile and high humus content, favourable water-physical parameters, good supply with nutritive elements, which creates near-optimal conditions for growing the majority of agricultural crops.

Meadow-chernozem surface- and deep-solonetzic soils (Phaeozems Sodic). Occur mainly on loess terraces of the Dnipro and its left-bank tributaries, taking up poorly-drained depressions and slope fans. Besides, they are found in flat-bottom steppe depressions. Unlike the above-mentioned soils, they are saturated by mineralized subsoil waters, and so are salinized in variable degrees, as well as alkalined and gleyed, hence they are partially suitable for growing some fastidious cultures.

Meadow soils (Umbrisols Gleyic). Found mainly on negative elements of the relief, with near (1.5–3 m) occurrence of fresh subsoil waters. In Polissia, these soils are short-profile; in the Forest-Steppe and Steppe have a deep well-developed profile, the lower part of which has indications of gleization. Except for strongly gleyed varieties of light texture in Polissia, they are characterized by favourable properties, high fertility, and suitability for growing vegetables and fodder crops.

Meadow solonetzic soils (Gleysols Sodic). Occur on depressed elements of the relief with a low depth of mineralized subsoil waters occurrence. Salts accumulate beginning with the surface (solonetz) or beginning with the depth of 30–50 cm (solonetzic). In the salt composition, toxic salts prevail (calcium and magnesium chlorides with considerable amount of sodium, and in the territory of Middle Dnipro region – soda).

Meadow-boggy soils (Gleysols Histic). Occur in depressed washout plains, river floodplains, on near-terrace depressions and gully bottoms with a low depth of subsoil waters occurrence, the greater part of the profile is gleyed. As a rule, they have much humus and a substantial store of nutritive materials but an unfavourable water-air regime impedes their use for cultivating plants. Used as natural forage grounds.

Peat soils of lowland type (Histosols Sapric). Occur in river floodplains, on closed and flow-through depressions of Polissia and the Forest-Steppe. Often they make up complexes with mineral soils, essentially differing from them by their properties: their density is 2.5–10 times less; the stores of main biogenic elements (except for carbon) are also less. The chemical composition is defined by conditions of water-mineral supply. Approximately half of the total area of peatbogs are drained and brought in use in fodder and field crops rotation. When over-drained and intensively used, these lands may rapidly become degraded. At that, the thickness and mineralization of the peat layer decreases.

Floodplain soils (Fluvisols Eutric). Develop in river floodplains on alluvial deposits, periodically are inundated by floodwaters. The content of humus and other characteristics vary considerably. Among the floodplain soils of the forest-steppe and steppe zones, alkaline and solonetz solonchak types are often found. Differences in properties call forth varied ways of their use.

Solonetz (Solonets). Occur in large massifs in the Syvash area and on the Kerch Peninsula. As a component of complexes with zonal soils are found on terraces of the Dnipro and southern rivers, floodplains, and sometimes in steppe watersheds. Have no value for agriculture.

Soloded soils (Planosols Albic). Are formed predominantly in the flat-bottom steppe depressions, as well as in depressions peculiar to fluvial terraces. Through the periodic overwetting and intensive washout of these soils, the hydrolytic decomposition of organic and mineral colloids takes place with the further transference of decomposition products along the profile. Practically unsuitable for agricultural use.

Brown mountain-forest and sod-brown soils of the Carpathians (Cambisols Dystric). Are found in the Carpathians as well as on the inselbergs of the Transcarpathian Lowland. Formed mainly on the eluvium-deluvium of dense rocks under the conditions of the intensive seasonal washout water regime. Mainly loamy, have a friable texture, the humus content varies from 2–2.5% in the warm belt to 7–9% in the cold one. Are characterized by high acidity. Are used in field and forage crop rotation and as natural pastures.

Brown mountain-forest and sod-brown soils of the Crimea (Cambisols Eutric). Prevail in the forest zone of the Crimean Mountains with absolute heights of more than 300 m above sea level on the slopes of the northern exposition, and above 400–600 m, the southern as well. Soil-forming rocks are the product of weathering of limestones, shales, sandstones, conglomerates, and massive crystalline rocks. There are calcareous, noncalcerous, and podzolized types. Prevail heavy loamy varieties with appreciable presence of the skeleton the amount of which increases downwards. The reaction is neutral, rarely – subacid, the humus content is 4–6% and sharply decreases downwards. Have rather high potential fertility, are good for forest growing, including valuable oaks and beeches, as well as fruit, essential oil plants, tobacco, and other cultures.

Brown-podzolic soils and their surface-gleyed types (Cambisols Gleyic). Occur on ridge-hilly territories of the low Zakarpattia (Transcarpathian) foothills and on wide sections of mountain river valleys, as well as on the highest positions of the Peredkarpattia (Forecarpathians) Upland. Formed on overlaying loess-like loams underlain by poorly permeable deposits. The soil formation is based on the combination of processes of podzolizing, brown soil formation, loess formation, and surface gleization. Are characterized by low fertility, especially concerning plants with deep rootage (orchards, vineyards).

Brown mountain rubbly soil (Cambisols Calcaric). Occupy the lower part of slopes of the Main Crimean Range and part of foothills. Spread to the height of 400–600 m above sea level. Soil-formation rocks comprise mainly shales and Upper Jurassic limestones. Formed under dry forests under the conditions peculiar to dry subtropics. The profile differentiates into the humus and two transitional horizons. The reaction is subacid. Are intensively used in agricultural production – on levelled sections they are ploughed up, on slopes, terraced. Are used for growing valuable fruit cultures, vine, essential oil plants, and tobacco.