Soils: The Free State's Agricultural Base

At least one third of South Africa's total grain crop, mainly maize and wheat, is produced in the Free State. Crop production potential and sensitivity to degradation depend largely on the interaction of climate and soil. Climatic conditions vary from arid in the south and southwestern region to nearly sub-humid in the extreme east on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment. A map of soil distribution in the Province shows groups of land types, each one characterised by a particular soil distribution pattern. The soil components of the map units is also presented. The crop production potential of the Province is presented in the form of a map. Delineations are based on interpretation of land type data and range from arable to non-arable. The total potentially arable area of the Free State is 3.82 million ha. In spite of a detailed understanding of the Free State's soils, degradation continues to occur, especially on cultivated land, where the most serious forms are erosion, acidification and organic matter decline.