Fig. 7 A limestone cave in Castellana, Puglia Soils
Fig. 8 A limestone plateau in Calabria
Like many peripheral regions, the Mezzogiorno has poor soils. The steep slopes of the Apennines make over half the land useless for agriculture. The most fertile soils are found on the flanks of the volcanoes at Campania
(Vesuvius) and Sicily (Mount Etna). The river valleys’ soils contain deposits of alluviumon fertile floodplains. Excellent soils are found along the floodplains of the Volturno and Ofanto Rivers and along theAdriatic coast in the Foggia region where wheat and olives are grown. The remainder of soils in the region are generally low quality and thin due to the
fact that the parent rock of crystalline granite and limestone do not break down into fertile soil. They require irrigation and fertilisers. Terra Rossa soils cover much of the landscape, especially in the far south. Terra
Rossa soils form over weathered limestone and have a deep red colour. They are favoured by winegrowers. These soils are subject to soil erosion due to overgrazing and drought.
Fig. 9 Steep infertile slopes make farming difficult in the Mezzogiorno. 366