We live on and of soil
Soil is the interface between the geosphere and the biosphere. In other words: The top layer of the earth’s crust, formed by mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms. It can serve several functions: Farmers grow their crop on it; it is used for forestry, roads, industrial sites, housing, mining and other important infrastructure. Furthermore, the soil can be used at storing, filtering and transforming minerals, water, organic matter, gases etc. It also serves as an archive containing natural and human history.
Soil threats
However, soil is the arena for a large number of land use conflicts and potential risks. Soil is damaged and ruined by contamination such as leaching of agrochemicals, deposition of heavy metals, disposal of agricultural, domestic and industrial waste. The soil structure can be demolished through loss of organic matter, salinisation and compaction of the subsoil. In addition to these man-made threats, wind and water constantly erodes the soil and make conditions unstable.
Water and wind erosion of soils. Photos: BGR
Soil management
Soil can be restored, but to a high cost. Soil degradation has huge economical and ecological consequences. EU is in the process of obtaining a common strategy for soil protection. The strategy will take into consideration the principles of precaution, anticipation and environmental responsibility , and will focus on initiatives already being undertaken in environmental policies, better integration of soil protection in other policies, soil monitoring and new actions based on monitoring results. However, in order to manage this problem, the European community needs information on soil quality, quantity and stability in order to preserve and manage this important resource. Geology and geochemistry both play a significant role in defining the quality of soil.
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