The thesis examines the spatial variability of soils in Slovenia, focusing on the influence of
geographical factors, pedodiversity and soil endemism. The aim of the study was to
comprehensively investigate the influence of geographical factors such as altitude, slope and
population density on soil variability in Slovenia, focusing on the quantification of
pedodiversity and the identification of endemic soil types, and to determine how these factors
contribute to soil variability. The methodological approach was based on the use of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) and the Python programming language for data analysis, which
allowed for a precise quantification of pedodiversity using indicators such as number of
species, Shannon diversity index, Gini-Simpson index and evenness index. The results showed
that geographical factors have a significant influence on soil distribution. In particular, altitude
and slope have a strong influence on the minor presence and diversity of soil types.
Geomorphological forms have been shown to be key in influencing the distribution of soils,
with specific soil types occurring mainly in certain geomorphological units. Correlation
analyses showed strong correlations between pedodiversity and geographical factors, with
population density showing positive correlations with pedodiversity. The study also identified
specific endemic soil types, some of which are very restricted geographically, highlighting their
greater vulnerability and need for conservation. The findings of the study contribute to a deeper
understanding of pedodiversity and soil distribution in Slovenia and provide a basis for further
research and strategic planning in the field of soil categorisation and conservation.
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