Global NEST Journal, Vol 16, No 1, pp 59-67, 2014 Copyright© 2014 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved SITE SPECIFIC AGRICULTURAL SOIL MANAGEMENT WITH THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES PAPADOPOULOS A. Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki PAPADOPOULOS F. 570 01 Thessaloniki, Greece TZIACHRIS P. METAXA I. IATROU M. Received: 09/09/2013 *to whom all correspondence should be addressed: Accepted: 30/10/2013 e-mail: iatrou@ssi.gov.gr ABSTRACT The Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki produces new digitized Soil Maps that provide a useful electronic database for the spatial representation of the soil variation within a region, based on in situ soil sampling, laboratory analyses, GIS techniques and plant nutrition mathematical models, coupled with the local land cadastre. The novelty of these studies is that local agronomists have immediate access to a wide range of soil information by clicking on a field parcel shown in this digital interface and, therefore, can suggest an appropriate treatment (e.g. liming, manure incorporation, desalination, application of proper type and quantity of fertilizer) depending on the field conditions and cultivated crops. A specific case study is presented in the current work with regards to the construction of the digitized Soil Map of the regional unit of Kastoria. The potential of this map can easily be realized by the fact that the mapping of the physicochemical properties of the soils in this region provided delineation zones for differential fertilization management. An experiment was also conducted using remote sensing techniques for the enhancement of the fertilization advisory software database, which is a component of the digitized map, and the optimization of nitrogen management in agricultural areas. KEYWORDS: soil map, new technologies, fertilization, GIS. 1. INTRODUCTION Excessive fertilizer application results in many negative environmental issues. On the other hand, deficient fertilizer application causes crop yield limitations. Thus, aspects of commercial practice have to go through serious review in order the problems currently concerning sound fertilizer application to be addressed. Precision agriculture is gaining interest worldwide because it allows site specific management practices to be applied minimizing the effect of crop growing in the environment and people. One important component of precision agriculture is soil mapping so that we are given accurate location information for the field and also its physical and chemical properties (Cambardella and Karlen, 1999). Without soil maps, there is not sound exploitation of the natural resources because modern technical knowledge (precision agriculture) cannot be used (Vavoulidou et al., 2009). Moreover, the systematic inventory of soil resources constitutes a national, economic and social necessity for a country. The rational exploitation of soil resources should be supported by technical knowledge (e.g. soil studies), and should not be based entirely on the "experience" or empirical methods. The new Common Agricultural Policy of E.U. (C.A.P. reform) imposes to member states the implementation of correct agricultural and environmentally friendly practices (rational irrigation and fertilization, prevention of groundwater nitrate pollution and eutrophication of water bodies from agricultural activities among others) from the farmers, as essential conditions for their subsidy. The objective of the current work was to develop a new digitized Soil Map that provides a useful electronic database for the spatial representation of the soil variation of a region, based on in situ