Soil vulnerability to pollution in Europe

Abstract. Pollution by inorganic and organic substances is increasingly disrupting the natural functions of soils. Some soils seem capable of receiving and holding chemical compounds, at the same time retaining their ecological flexibility, but others are readily damaged and should be regarded as vulnerable to particular pollution scenarios.
At the request of the Chemical Time Bombs (CTB) Project, the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) organized an international workshop to assess the feasibility of increasing awareness of 'soil vulnerability' by a mapping exercise for Europe (SOVEUR), at a scale of 1:5 M, with reference to selected organic and inorganic contaminants. The workshop participants outlined procedures for a GIS-based approach to determining areas where vulnerable soils occur, and formulated proposals for the implementation phase of the SOVEUR programme. Funding is now sought for continuation of the work outlined in this paper.     

Vulnerability of subsoils in Europe to compaction: a preliminary analysis

Identifying the vulnerability of subsoils to compaction damage is an increasingly important issue both in the planning and execution of farming operations and in planning environmental protection measures. Ideally, subsoil vulnerability to compaction should be assessed by direct measurement of soil bearing capacity but currently no direct practical tests are available. Similarly, soil mechanics principles are not suitably far enough advanced to allow extrapolation of likely compaction damage from experimental sites to situations in general. This paper, therefore, proposes a simple classification system for subsoil vulnerability to compaction based for field use on local soil and wetness data at the time of critical trafficking, and, at European level, on related soil and climatic information. Soil data are readily available ‘in Country’ or from the European Soil Database and climatic data are stored in the agrometeorological database of the MARS Project. The vulnerability to compaction is assessed using a two-stage process. First, the inherent susceptibility of the soil to compaction is estimated on the basis of the relatively stable soil properties of texture and packing density. Second, the susceptibility class is then converted into a vulnerability class through consideration of the likely soil moisture status at the time of critical loadings. For use at local level, adjustments are suggested to take account of possible differences in the support strength of the topsoil and specific subsoil structural conditions. The vulnerability classes proposed are based on profile pit observations, on a wide range of soils examined mainly in intensively farmed areas where large-scale field equipment is employed. A map of soil susceptibility to compaction in Europe has been produced, as the first stage in developing a more rigorous quantitative approach to assessing overall vulnerability than has been possible hitherto.     

Priorities towards national-level soil protection: a survey of soil stakeholders in Scotland

Abstract. Soil protection policies are being developed in many countries, particularly those in the European Union where pan-national regulatory frameworks now exist. We report an analysis of a survey of the views of a wide range of stakeholders in the soil resource of Scotland, including representatives of rural and urban land users, public bodies and authorities, non-governmental environmental organizations, and soil scientists based in Scotland. The four soil issues considered of particular importance were soil pollution, soil erosion, loss of soils to development, and loss of biodiversity. Comments were strongly polarized, either strongly promoting issues or indicating lack of awareness, on a set of topics: the loss of valued soils, loss of archaeological sites, and changes in terrestrial carbon store. It is argued that an integrated approach is required to implement any future soil protection strategies, and that special attention should be paid to monitoring long-term changes and to provision of soil survey data from urban areas.     

Soil degradation processes and their control in Hungary

Soil degradation is usually a complex process in which several features of soil deterioration can be recognized. Soil degradation may lead to the loss of land or soil; limitations to normal soil functions; decrease of soil fertility and ‘productive capacity’. The main soil degradation process are: (1) soil erosion by water and wind; (2) Development of extreme soil reaction (acidification; salinization/alkalization); (3) physical degradation (structural destruction; compaction; extreme moisture regime); (4) biological degradation; (5) unfavourable changes in the nutrient regime; (6) decrease of buffering capacity (leading to pollution, toxicity). Soil degradation is not an unavoidable consequence of intensive agriculture and social development. Most of the processes and their unfavourable consequences can be controlled, prevented, eliminated, or at least moderated. A rational strategy of efficient soil degradation control should be based on a system involving the following (consecutive) steps: (a) registration of facts and consequences; (b) analysis of reasons, processes, influencing factors and their mechanisms; (c) determination of the theoretical, real, rational and economic possibilities for control; (d) prediction of the potential impacts of these control alternatives; (e) elaboration and extension of technologies for the optimum alternatives. The present status of soil degradation processes in Hungary is briefly summarized in this paper and the possibilities for control are reviewed, with special regard to soil erosion, salinization/alkalization, acidification and physical degradation (compaction, structure destruction). Based on detailed and comprehensive information on soils (thematic maps of various scales; computerized geographical soil information system) the potential future development of various soil degradation processes is forecast and technologies are elaborated and recommended for use in Hungarian agriculture to prevent soil degradation.     

PRIORITISING SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT THROUGH THE SCREENING OF SITES: THE USE OF PUBLICLY COLLECTED DATA

Emergence of policies dealing with concern over soil degradation and anthropogenic impacts to soil is likely to increase the requirement for assessment of soil quality and identification of soils at risk from degradation. An example is the proposed EU Soil Framework Directive, which features the identification of areas requiring protection from soil degradation. There have been some serious objections to such requirements on the grounds of resource and capital demands. To help to address these concerns, this work proposes a strategic set of indicators based on measured soil quality indicators. These can be used in screening locations to assess the likelihood of degradation and indicate areas for further detailed assessment. This will allow further emphasis to be placed on a smaller number of locations, which could lead to cost and resource efficiencies. Indicators have been used in the past in assessment of soil quality; they are parameters which can be measured and correspond to assessment criteria to measure and help monitor the status and changes. The study reviews the current state of soil quality assessment including methods and indicators that are used to collect data and approaches used to assess data to determine areas subject to soil degradation. Methods and practicalities for data collection and screening are discussed, including the need for further pilot testing and protocol development. Use of public data collection could allow more resource efficient protection of soils, in addition to benefits of public engagement, and raising awareness of the importance of soils and soil biodiversity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

磁性参数在红壤退化评价指标中的应用

选择浙西金华地区兰溪实验观测站六种不同退化程度的红壤为研究对象 ,分析了反映红壤退化程度的物理、化学和生物指标及红壤磁测参数与它们之间的内在联系。结果表明 ,磁性参数与反映红壤退化程度的理化及生物指标均有显著或较显著的相关性。退化程度较轻的香樟林和混交林表现了较低的细晶粒磁性矿物含量和较高的反铁磁性矿物含量 ,退化程度较高的杉木林、桔园、草地则相反 ,细晶粒磁性矿物含量较高且亚铁磁性矿物的相对含量上升。磁性参数和土壤理化生物指标之间良好的相关性表明 ,磁性参数可以作为指示红壤退化程度的重要指标。     

Human-altered and human-transported (HAHT) soils in the U.S. soil classification system

ABSTRACT

Human-altered and human-transported (HAHT) soils are widespread across the globe and are concentrated near where people live and work. Although some of the HAHT soils are significant because they can be hazardous to human, animal, and plant health, most are not mapped or classified to the same extent as agricultural soils. The purpose of this article is to discuss the occurrence, types, and importance of HAHT soils and to document the historical and proposed classification of HAHT soils in Soil Taxonomy. There are two main forms of materials that define HAHT soils: human-altered soils formed in human-altered materials (HAM) from the soil surface to 50 cm (or to bedrock if shallower) or more and human-transported soils formed in human-transported materials (HTM) from the soil surface to 50 cm (or to bedrock if shallower) or more. The HAHT soils mainly occur in urban areas, transportation corridors, mined lands, landfills, filled shallow water, and agricultural areas on anthropogenic landforms. Hazards include danger from radioactivity, pollution, content of hazardous artifacts, or presence on unstable landforms that may fail during heavy rains or earthquakes. The HAHT soils are extensive, and their extent is growing. In the past, few HAHT soils were described or classified adequately because the U.S. Soil Taxonomy system was established for agricultural and other naturally occurring soils. However, HAHT soils are now being recognized and classified in many soil classification systems at very high levels. A new soil order is proposed for U.S. Soil Taxonomy that would include the most obvious profoundly and intentionally altered HAHT soils. A discussion and justification is given for an unofficial proposal. Input will be collected from international groups of scientists, and modifications of the unofficial proposal are expected. The long-term result of establishing a new soil order will be to enable proper classification, allocation, and mapping of HAHT soils worldwide.     

Some major developments in soil science since the mid-1960s

Although the science of soil was established about 150 years ago with the modern soil science taking off after the Second World War, the new Millennium has brought other challenges and new opportunities. Rapidly increasing population in countries that can least afford it have made them food-insecure. With inadequate inputs in agriculture, developing countries are degrading their lands rapidly and destroying ecosystems. Affluence in the richer countries has precipitated other problems hampering ecosystem functions and quality of land resources. These changing conditions have placed new demands on both the society and the soil science community. The latter has resulted in new areas of soil sub-disciplines such as land and soil quality, land degradation and desertification, cycling of bio-geochemicals, soil pollution assessment and monitoring etc. Advances in information technology have also enabled the science to meet the new demands of the enviro-centric world. In the last decade, noticeable changes are evident in methods and research priorities in the discipline. Soil resource assessment and monitoring is entering a new era, in terms of quality of information produced by new information technologies through the innovative use of Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing and significantly improving the acceptance and use of soil survey information. Electronic technology has dramatically increased the demand for and ability to process more data. Other innovations have resulted in quantitative approaches in soil genetic studies and demonstrated the integral role of soils in ecosystems. For global and regional resource assessment, concepts and procedures were refined. The World Reference Base for soil classification and the Global Soil and Terrain Database are the first steps towards standardisation and a more detailed assessment of global soils. The global assessment of human-induced land degradation and vulnerability to desertification are benchmark products of the databases. Environmental pollution and its effects on human and ecosystem health have become public concerns and soil science has contributed to localising, quantifying, and developing mitigation technologies to address the problems. The challenges of climate change and the charge to maintain ecological integrity have been met with technologies such as conservation tillage, agroforestry, precision agriculture etc. New concepts such as multi-functionality of land, soil quality, sustainability of agriculture and carbon sequestration, have emerged leading to new management strategies and an enhanced quality of life.     

Classification of Urban and Industrial Soils in the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (5 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Historically, built areas were ignored in soil mapping and in studies of soil formation and behaviour. It is now recognized that these areas, and therefore their soils, are of prime importance to human populations. Another trend is the large increase in reclaimed lands and new uses for old industrial areas. In several countries there are active projects to map such areas, either with locally-developed classification systems or ad-hoc names. Soil classification gives unique and reproducible names to soil individuals, thereby facilitating correlation of soil studies; this should be possible also for urban soils. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) is the soil classification system endorsed by the International Union of Soil Science (IUSS). The 2006 edition has important enhancements which allow urban and industrial soils to be described and mapped, most notably a new reference group, the Technosols. Main Features   Urban soils are first defined, followed by the philosophical basis of soil classification in general and the WRB in particular. WRB 2006 added a new Technosols reference soil group for soils whose properties and function are dominated by technical human activity as evidenced by either a substantial presence of artefacts, or a impermeable constructed geomembrane, or technic hard rock. Technosols are one of Ekranic, Linic, Urbic, Spolic or Garbic; further qualifiers are added to show intergrades to other groups as well as specific soil properties. Soils from fill are recognized as Transportic Regosols or Arenosols. Toxic soils are specifically recognized by a qualifier. Results   - Discussion   The limit between Technosols and other groups may be difficult to determine, because of the requirement that the technic nature dominate any subsequent pedogenesis. Conclusions   - Perspectives   The WRB should certainly be used in all urban soil studies to facilitate communication and correlation of results. In the period leading up to the next revision in 2010, the quantitative results from urban soil studies should be used to refine class definitions.     

基于SOTER的海南岛土壤水侵蚀模拟

The actual and potential water erosion rates of soils with different land covers in Hainan Island,China,were estimated based on the universal soil loss equation(USLE) and a 1:200000 Soils and Terrain digital Database(SOTER) Ddatabase,from which soil water erosion factors could be extracted.92.8% of the whole island had a current erosion rate of lowerthan 500t km^-2 a^-1.Soil erosion risk was considered to be high because of its abundant rainfall.Without vegetation tcover,the potential soil erosion ratewould be extremely high and 90.8% ofthe island would have a soil erosion rate higher than 2500t km^-2a^-1.Relative erosion vulnerability of different soil zones,landform types,and lithological regions of the island was compared by introducing a relative erosion hazard parameter α.Cambosols developed from siltstone and mudstone in low hill regions were pinpointed as soils with the highest erosion risk in the island.     

Soil structural degradation in SW England and its impact on surface‐water runoff generation

Field investigations between 2002 and 2011 identified soil structural degradation to be widespread in SW England with 38% of the 3243 surveyed sites having sufficiently degraded soil structure to produce observable features of enhanced surface‐water runoff within the landscape. Soil under arable crops often had high or severe levels of structural degradation. Late‐harvested crops such as maize had the most damaged soil where 75% of sites were found to have degraded structure generating enhanced surface‐water runoff. Soil erosion in these crops was found at over one in five sites. A tendency for the establishment of winter cereals in late autumn in the South West also often resulted in damaged soil where degraded structure and enhanced surface‐water runoff were found in three of every five cereal fields. Remedial actions to improve soil structure are either not being undertaken or are being unsuccessfully used. Brown Sands, Brown Earths and loamy Stagnogley Soils were the most frequently damaged soils. The intensive use of well‐drained, high quality sandy and coarse loamy soils has led to soil structural damage resulting in enhanced surface‐water runoff from fields that should naturally absorb winter rain. Surface water pollution, localized flooding and reduced winter recharge rates to aquifers result from this damage. Chalk and limestone landscapes on the other hand show little evidence of serious soil structural degradation and <20% of fields in these landscapes generate enhanced runoff.     

Environmental conditions and chemical time bomb hazards in Poland

Observations on the state of the environment, soil properties, soil hazards and some possible changes in soil parameters are discussed. Sandy and light loamy soils cover more than 50 per cent of the arable land in Poland. About 58 per cent of soils are acid (pH<5-5) in the surface layer and 25 per cent in the layer from 100 to 150 cm. About 51-3 per cent of soils are very vulnerable to pollution. According to a BIGLEB-SOWEP prognosis, in the year 2000 about 13 per cent of soils will be seriously at risk from chemical degradation. Acidification will proceed due to increases in the emission of SO2 and NOx, and the end of liming. the environmental conditions in Poland favour delayed responses to environmental hazards: chemical time bombs.     

西藏人工造林作业区土壤养分特征研究

为了掌握西藏拟造林作业区的土壤养分状况,对6个地市524个造林作业区的土壤样本进行了养分测定和分析。结果表明:(1)土壤全钾、有效磷、有机质和速效钾均处在"稍缺―极缺"水平:平均含量分别为6.26 g kg~(-1)、8.7 mg kg~(-1)、17.81 g kg~(-1)和83.6 mg kg~(-1),全氮和全磷处在"中等―稍缺"水平:平均含量分别为1.39 g kg~(-1)和0.72 g kg~(-1),碱解氮条件最好:平均含量为214.1 mg kg~(-1),全钾条件最差。(2)6地市除碱解氮外,土壤中分别存在2至5个养分元素的缺乏,多数作业区全钾、速效钾和有效磷不足。阿里地区最缺有机质,仅5.08 g kg~(-1),日喀则市、拉萨市和林芝市最缺全钾,仅5.19~6.42 g kg~(-1),山南市和昌都市最缺有效磷,仅3.9~5.4 mg kg~(-1)。此外,拉萨市、山南市和阿里地区多数作业区全氮不足,阿里地区、日喀则市和昌都市全磷不足,除昌都市外各地市有机质不足的作业区居多。(3)地市间土壤养分含量差异显著,但速效钾、有机质在日喀则市、拉萨市和山南市间差异均不显著。总体而言,西藏造林作业区土壤养分状况较差,通过对西藏造林作业区土壤养分的特征分析,可为作业区造林后树木生长状态的成因查寻提供科学依据,为进一步提高造林质量提供基础数据。     

长期秸秆还田对土壤肥力质量的影响

从20世纪80年代开始,分别在江苏常熟和江西进贤布置长期定位试验,研究秸秆还田对乌栅土及红壤性水稻土土壤肥力的影响.结果表明:无论是乌栅土还是红壤性水稻土,秸秆与化肥配合施用下,土壤全N、全P、速效P和速效K含量与不施肥的CK处理相比显著提高;另外,红壤性水稻土的秸秆还田土壤全N、全P、速效P含量与单一施用化肥处理相比显著提高(P＜0.05).同样,上述两种土壤的土壤有机质含量较单一施用化肥的处理显著增加,而且从腐殖质的组分分析可知:腐殖酸C、胡敏酸C与富里酸C的比值均显著提高,表明土壤有机质品质得以改善.因此,长期的秸秆与化肥配合施用是提高土壤肥力的有效措施之一.     

基于Web的中国土种数据库

来源于第二次全国土壤普查汇总成果的中国土种数据库是目前最全面的全国性土壤数据库。它收录了20世纪80年代我国主要土种的分布、面积、性状、土地利用情况和生产性能等资料。自2000年以来,中国科学院南京土壤研究所开始建设基于Web的中国土种数据库,构造了一个包括地点与土壤类型的空间分布关系和依据中国土壤发生分类系统的分类层次关系的实体-关系(entity-relationship,E-R)数据模型,形成了具有2 473个土种典型剖面、8 751个发生层及物理化学性质的数据产品。该数据库可通过互联网广泛应用于土地退化评估、环境影响研究以及土壤碳储量研究,亦可作为基础数据指导农业生产。     

中国北方红色土壤分类问题的探讨

现今出露于中国北方地表的红色土壤是在红色古土壤和红色古风化壳上发育的,而且大多经历了不连续的成土过程。中国北方红色土壤分布广泛、成因复杂,在分类中还存在着许多问题。从20世纪70年代末至今,我国土壤分类经历了由土壤发生学分类向土壤系统分类的重大转变,对北方红色土壤的分类也进行了多次修订。虽然每次修订都有所改进,但直到目前关于北方红色土壤的分类位置问题仍没有得到彻底解决。因此,今后需要对中国北方红色土壤的形成过程及土壤的性态特征和理化性状进行深入研究,建立适合北方红色土壤系统分类的诊断层和诊断特性,以明确中国北方红色土壤在系统分类中的位置,进一步完善中国土壤系统分类。     

退化草地土壤农化性状与微生物区系研究

通过对三种退化程度不同的草地土壤农化性状与微生物区系进行研究，结果表明，草地退化后，其土壤肥力水平、土壤微生物数量和微生物种类有随退化程度增高而下降的趋势；退化草地存在不同的程度的营养元素比例失调，表现为少氮、缺磷、富钾和高有机质含量，且退化程度接近的草地间，在土壤微生物区系和农化性状有部分类似的特征。     

持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法修复研究进展

持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法是污染场地土壤物化修复方法中一种常用的技术。淋洗法是指运用特定淋洗剂对污染土壤进行深度洗涤,通过分离净化淋洗剂,实现回用集成,达到去除土壤中污染物的目的,并最终安全化处置污染物和修复土壤的过程。本文根据污染场地土壤处理位置、淋洗剂种类和淋洗剂施用方式的差异,将持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法划分为不同的种类;总结了为达到高效去除土壤中污染物质,可运用多级淋洗方式、超声方式、电动力方式和化学氧化等方式实现强化修复效率;阐述了污染场地土壤质地、污染物性质、淋洗剂性质、淋洗条件优化以及淋洗剂回用效率等因素对淋洗修复整体效用的显著影响;同时指出了目前持久性有机污染场地土壤淋洗法存在的问题和今后国内外研究和应用的方向。综合考虑土壤淋洗修复技术适用范围和成本因素,认为淋洗法是一种较符合我国持久性有机污染场地土壤实情的修复技术,具有较强的针对性和较广泛的运用前景。     

A world dataset of derived soil properties by FAO–UNESCO soil unit for global modelling

A standardized dataset of derived soil properties for the 106 soil units considered on FAO-UNESCO's 1:5 million scale Soil Map of the World is presented. It was derived from a statistical analysis of the 4353 soil profiles held in the WISE (World Inventory of Soil Emission) database, which was developed at the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC) for the geographic quantification of soil factors that control processes of global change. Median values are presented by soil unit for selected soil properties including: pH(H₂O); organic carbon content; cation exchange capacity; sum of exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and K⁺; exchangeable sodium percentage; bulk density; total porosity; available water capacity; soil drainage class; and gravel content class. Medians for these variables are presented both for the topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–100 cm), where applicable. The data set can help to refine ratings for soil quality in global environmental models pending the availability of comprehensive georeferenced databases on soil and terrain resources such as SOTER, the World Soil and Terrain Database. In a Geographical Information System (GIS) it can be linked to the units shown on the digital Soil Map of the World through the legend code.     

Anthropogenic effects on soil quality of ancient agricultural systems of the American Southwest

Soil studies of ancient agricultural fields contribute to research on long-term human–environmental relationships and land use sustainability. This kind of research is especially applicable in desert landscapes of the American Southwest because: (1) soil formation is slow enough that cultivation effects persist for centuries to millennia; (2) many ancient fields in valley margins have remained uncultivated since they were abandoned, so long-term soil properties reflect ancient agricultural use; and (3) agricultural features (e.g., terraces, rock alignments and rock piles, and irrigation canals) provide clues for identifying and sampling ancient cultivated and uncultivated soils. Surficial remnants of these field systems persist and remain intact in many cases. Soil studies of ancient and modern American Indian agricultural systems across the Southwest indicate that soil changes are highly variable, ranging from degradation (e.g., organic matter/nutrient decline, compaction), to minimal net change, to enhanced soil quality. Soil changes caused by cultivation can be inferred by comparing soils in agricultural fields relative to reference uncultivated areas in similar landscape settings (that is, space-for-time substitution). Soil response trajectories vary for a number of reasons, such as variability in initial ecosystem conditions, diversity in agricultural methods, variability in the mix of crops and cropping intensity, and environmental sensitivity to alteration (varying resistance and resilience). Studies of rock mulch soils indicate enhanced fertility, with elevated organic carbon, nitrogen, and available phosphorus levels, increased infiltration rates and moisture retention, and no evidence of compaction. By contrast, cultivation effects vary widely for terraced soils. Although numerous studies have focused on irrigation canals, irrigated soils have received far less attention. Soil studies of irrigation systems along the Gila and Santa Cruz rivers of Arizona now underway will help fill this research gap.