Following land surveys and on-site investigations, soil profiles have been opened to establish the global soil fertility status and the presence of hazardous and harmful substances at the level of the experiment field. Based on the analyses of water-physical and chemical properties of the samples taken in the profiles, soil types have been identified and a soil map at the level of soil form has been made. To get a better insight in the soil fertility status and the distribution of hazardous and harmful substances, the experiment field has been subdivided in 3-5 ha elementary plots. Samples from the profiles and those taken for soil fertility testing have been analysed for the contents of microelements and heavy metals. Based on the criteria for the production of safe food, recommendations have been made and maps have been drawn of the areas in which the selection and seed production of medicinal herbs may be conducted without risk of contamination of their vegetative and/or generative parts. Taking in account the soil requirements of individual medicinal crops, most favourable plots have been identified at the experiment field and their locations have been mapped.

Key words: fertility, microelements, heavy metals, and medicinal herbs