1. Definitions, concepts and tools -- 2. Factors of pedogenesis -- 3. Progressive descent of weathering fronts, other pedogenetic mechanisms and spatial organization of soils -- 4. Classifications : international WRB and U.S. soil taxonomy -- 5. Ferralsols and other soils of the hot regions -- 6. Vertisols -- 7. Calcisols and other soils on carbonate-bearing and sulphate-bearing materials -- 8. Cambisols, luvisols and planosols -- 9. Red soils of the Mediterranean and dry tropical zones -- 10. Andosols -- 11. Podzolic soils -- 12. Gleysols, stagnosols and histosols -- 13. Saline soils : solonchaks and solonetz -- 14. Chernozems; general conclusions.