Glossary: list of terms
The below list provides the definition of soil related keywords (glossary). It is continuously updated throughout the project lifetime. Each term is also translated into 8 languages.
Alphabetical List of Terms
A
Acidification
The process by which the concentration of hydrogen ions in the soil gradually increases, caused by the removal of slightly alkaline ions with the crop, leaching and the application of acidifying types of nitrogen (N) fertiliser. This process is accelerated or insufficiently compensated by natural soil components, including parent material.
Adsorption
Process by which atoms, molecules or ions are retained on the surfaces of solids by chemical or physical bonding. Absorption is based on the absorption of vapours, gases and undissociated molecules.
Agriculture
Agriculture refers to the science, art, and practice of cultivating plants and rearing animals for food, fiber, medicine plants, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life. It encompasses a wide range of activities, including soil preparation, planting, irrigation, pest control, harvesting, and livestock management. Agriculture is a fundamental component of human civilization, providing the primary source of food and raw materials for industries. It also plays a critical role in economic development, environmental management, and cultural practices.
Agroferestry
A type of land use that combines production on the same plot of land, from annual agricultural activities (such as crops and pasture) and from delayed long-term production by trees (for example, timber and services). This is obtained either by planting trees on agricultural land or by cropping (for example after thinning) on forested land. Plots that combine arable intercrops with forestry trees are silvoarable plots, while wooded plots with pasture under the tree canopy are known as silvopastoral plots.
Anthropogenic
Generated by humans. If focusing on soil, it is used to indicate conditions, disturbances, or stresses that are created by human activities.
Arable land
This is land worked (ploughed or tilled) regularly, generally under a system of crop rotation. The total area under crops, meadows and pastures, and available for crop production but currently leaved as fallow land.
B
Base saturation
The degree to which a soil having cation-exchange properties is saturated with exchangeable bases (sum of Ca, Mg, Na, K), expressed as a percentage of the total cation-exchange capacity.
Biodiversity
Is the variety of life on Earth at all levels, including genetic diversity within species, the diversity of species themselves, and the diversity of ecosystems. It encompasses the range of plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms, and the ecological complexes of which they are part. Biodiversity is essential for the stability and resilience of ecosystems, as it underpins the processes that sustain life, such as nutrient cycling, pollination, soil formation, and climate regulation.
The functions of biodiversity are critical to both natural ecosystems and human well-being. Biodiversity provides ecosystem services such as food, clean water, medicine, and raw materials, while also contributing to cultural, recreational, and aesthetic values. Biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity and resilience, enabling ecosystems to recover from disturbances and adapt to changes, such as those caused by climate change. Loss of biodiversity, driven by habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species, threatens these vital functions and services.
Biomass
Organic material of biological origin (plants and animals). The term can be used for agro-industrial effluents and waste, energy crops, materials harvested from nature (e.g., wood) or the organic wastes. Biomass can be used to improve soil fertility and health, to increase carbon storage or as an alternative to fossil raw materials in biorefineries and industrial processes, as a raw material for the production of biofuels.
C
Carbon cycle
Sequence of transformations whereby carbon dioxide is converted to organic forms by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, recycled through the biosphere (with partial incorporation into sediments), and ultimately returned to its original state through respiration or combustion.
Soil Carbon management
The practices and strategies aimed at maintaining or increasing the amount of carbon stored in soils, primarily in the form of organic matter. This process is critical for improving soil health, enhancing agricultural productivity, and mitigating climate change by sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂). Soil carbon management enhances soil fertility, water retention, and biodiversity, and contributes to climate change mitigation by capturing and storing CO₂. It plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem resilience.
Key practices in soil carbon management include: conservation tillage, crop rotation and diversification, cover cropping, agroforestry and restoration of degraded soils.
Cation exchange capacity
The capacity of soil to hold nutrients for plant use. Specifically, CEC is the amount of negative charge available on clay minerals and soil humus to hold positively charged ions. Effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) is reported for acid soils (pH<5). Expressed as centimoles of charge per kilogram of soil (cmolc/kg).
Compost
The material used to supply organic matter or plant nutrients to a soil, resulting from composting.
Composting
The aerobic microbial decomposition of organic materials, such as agricultural wastes, urban organic waste, and mowing residues. This process is typically accomplished by regularly turning and aerating organic biomass stored in heaps with a geometry that promotes effective aeration. During this transformation, the most readily degradable organic fractions undergo oxidation and are converted into stable organic matter, which can be utilised in agriculture as a fertiliser and as a method of biological control. Depending on the feedstock used for composting, there may be risks, for example microplastic contamination in the case of domestic derived feedstock, which requires caution in agricultural applications. Concomitantly, the product may become less bulky due to the loss of water and also more manageable due to homogenization.
In addition to these benefits, composting helps decrease the initial phytotoxicity of the organic materials used, disinfects the materials, and reduces the germinability of any weed seeds.
Conservation agriculture
A farming method including minimum soil disturbance (no tillage, minimum tillage, reduced tillage, strip tillage, direct drill), crop rotation, and permanent soil cover (http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/).
Controlled traffic
Using the same traffic lanes for machinery used for different applications within one year and the same traffic lanes across years, usually supported by a sat-nav system, in order to reduce soil compaction.
Conventional farming
A farming method that includes the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides (and sometimes genetically modified organisms), to maximize crop yields, allowing these types of farms to be less dependent on cultural (crop rotation, inclusion of crops fixing atmospheric N), biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. It often involves large-scale monoculture (growing a single crop over a large area) and mechanized practices to streamline operations and reduce labour costs.
D-F
Denitrification
A process performed by a few species of anaerobic soil bacteria in which nitrite or nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas (N2) or nitrous oxide (N2O). Both N2 and N2O are volatile and lost to the atmosphere.
Desertification
The process in which relatively dry land becomes increasingly arid, typically losing its bodies of water as well as vegetation and wildlife either directly via climate change or indirectly via soil degradation resulting from poor management.
Drainage (natural)
The natural ability of the soil profile to drain excess water by percolation, as opposed to artificial drainage which is usually the result of drainage through a system of drains or ditches.
Ecosystem services
The contributions of ecosystems to the benefits achieved in economic and other human activity. Ecosystem services can be broadly grouped under four categories:
1) Provisioning services, which represent the material and energy contributions generated by or in an ecosystem (i.e., plants with pharmaceutical properties);
2) Regulating services, which result from the capacity of ecosystems to regulate climate, hydrologic and biochemical cycles, Earth surface processes, and a variety of biological processes.
3) Cultural services, which are generated from the physical settings, locations, or situations that give rise to intellectual and symbolic benefits obtained by people from ecosystems through recreation, knowledge development, relaxation, and spiritual reflection.
4) Supporting services are the fundamental natural processes that maintain the conditions for life on Earth and enable the provision of all other ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, and cultural services). These services include soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production, water cycling and habitat provision
Edaphon
The community of soil organisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, nematodes, earthworms, insects, protozoa).
Electrical conductivity
Measure of a material’s ability to accommodate the transport of an electric charge. It is used as a measure of the salinity of the soil, and to estimate practical consequences for crops. EC of a soil suspension at a given soil to water ratio (usually 1:5 or saturated extract as a proxy to soil solution), expressed as Siemen per m.
Soil erosion
Erosion is the removal of land or soil through one or more processes. The main causes of erosion include the actions of water (rills, inter-rill, gully, snowmelt and river and lake bank erosion), wind (desiccation and wind-blow), translocation (tillage, land levelling, harvesting of root crops, trampling and burrowing animals) and geological (internal subterranean erosion by groundwater, coastal erosion and landslides). Erosion can also be increased by poor land management such as overgrazing, deforestation or inappropriate use of mechanisation (e.g., ploughing down a hill slope).
Example of soil erosion catena after Radziuk and Świtoniak (2022; 6).
Source: Radziuk and Świtoniak. 2022. Agronomy (MDPI), https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12112595
Eutrophication
Process through which a waterbody, such as a lake or a soil solution, becomes enriched with dissolved nutrients. This can be natural but is often due to pollution. Eutrophication may result in algal blooms which finally promote anaerobic conditions that may harm fish life.
Evapotranspiration
The process by which water passes from a liquid to a vapour (gaseous) state through transpiration from vegetation, and evaporation from soil and plant surfaces. The rate of evapotranspiration is usually expressed in mm day-¹; a distinction can be made between the potential evapotranspiration under unlimited availability of water and the actual evapotranspiration under limited availability.
Exhaustion
The gradual depletion of reserves of nutrients and organic matter in soils.
Extensification
The process of decreasing the use of capital and inputs (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, energy) relative to land area. Due to a decrease in inputs per land area the pressure on the environment may be decreased. A decrease in pesticides used, for instance, is likely to decrease the risk of pesticide run-off in surface and groundwater (‘loss per unit area’). However, the actual effect of a decrease in the use of inputs on the environment does not only depend on the amount of inputs used but also on how they are applied and the extent to which decreased inputs lead to lower production (‘loss per unit produce’). Therefore, extensification does not necessarily lead to an environmentally more benign situation.
Fallow land
Cropland left idle to restore productivity through accumulation of moisture or organic matter. Summer fallow is common in regions of limited rainfall where cereal grains are grown. The soil is tilled for at least one growing season for weed control and decomposition of plant residue.
Fertilization
The application of mineral or organic compounds to maintain or increase soil fertility. In some cases, (e.g., liming) the purpose of fertilization is also to improve specific soil properties (pH, stability of soil structure).
Fertilizer replacement value
Expressed in kg/100kg quantifies the amount of nutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) provided by 100 kilograms of an organic nutrient source (such as manure, compost, or crop residues) that is equivalent to the amount of nutrients supplied by mineral fertilizers. For example, if 100 kg of manure has an FRV of 3 kg for phosphorus (P), it provides the same amount of available phosphorus as 3 kg of a mineral phosphorus fertilizer.
This metric helps farmers compare the nutrient contribution of organic materials to synthetic fertilizers and make informed decisions about nutrient management.
Field capacity
The moisture condition where a soil contains the maximum amount of water that it can hold against gravity, and where further wetting will result in drainage. Following saturation, soils typically return to field capacity, when the rate of downward movement of water has substantially decreased, usually 1-3 days after rain or irrigation after the gravitational, or free, water has drained away. It is typically expressed as a mass or volume fraction of soil water
Functional land management
A conceptual framework for optimizing the supply of ecosystem services based on five key soil functions, at different spatial scales, to simultaneously meet agronomic and environmental policy objectives. More info: Soil functions concept http://landmarkproject.eu/soil-functions-concept/
G-I
Green manure
Non-harvested crop grown in between two main crop seasons, intended to improve the soil fertility, generally not growing under nitrogen (N) limitation due to the use of fertilizers and manures, or the ability to fix atmospheric N.
Groundwater
Freshwater found beneath the earth’s surface that fills the cavities of the earth’s crust (pores, crevices in soil, sand and rock) contiguously, – and that supplies wells and springs, excluding the water in the vadose (unsaturated) zone. The definition applies to all permanent and temporary water deposits, formed both artificially and naturally, of sufficient quality for at least seasonal use. Groundwater supplies are replenished, or recharged, by rain and melting snow, depending on climate conditions. They can usually be recovered from, or via, an underground formation.
Humification
Process whereby the carbon of organic residues is transformed and converted to humic substances through biochemical and abiotic processes.
Humus
The dark, amorphous organic component formed through the decomposition of plant and animal residues by soil microorganisms in mineral soils, with a low specific weight and high surface area; usually composed of many organic compounds of high molecular weight. A term often used synonymously with soil organic matter. Humus is a critical component of healthy soils, important for soil fertility and helps to bind soil particles and aggregates together.
Immobilisation
Conversion of water-soluble elements into organic compounds by soil biota.
Process by which nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and other essential elements), are temporarily converted from an available, water-soluble inorganic form into an unavailable, organic form by soil microorganisms. This occurs when microorganisms incorporate these nutrients into their cells and tissues during the decomposition of organic matter, making them temporarily inaccessible to plants.
In polluted soils, immobilisation can also mean that some potentially toxic elements become insoluble, which is a positive phenomenon because it reduces the risk of spreading contaminants in the environment and their possible uptake by plants.
infiltration
The movement of water passing the soil surface into the soil (as contrasted with percolation, which is movement of water through soil profile (horizons) moving down to the aquifers.
Intensification
The process of increasing the use of inputs (labour, information, energy, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery) relative to land area, to increase agricultural production per unit area. Intensification may increase the pressure on the environment, if it is comprised of an indiscriminate increase in the use of inputs without an associated increase in managerial input. An increased use of fertilizers and pesticides, for instance, may increase the risk of nutrient and pesticide run-off into surface and groundwater (‘loss per unit area’). However, the actual effect of the use of inputs on the environment does not only depend on the amount of inputs used but also on how they are applied and the extent to which they contribute to production increases (‘loss per unit produced’). Therefore, intensification does not necessarily need to lead to environmental degradation.
J-O
Knowledge and Education Actors
This group consists of academic and research institutions with a focus on soil science, agriculture, forestry or environmental studies, whose aim is to generate new knowledge and understanding related to soil governance issues, including soil health, sustainable land use, and conservation practices, through research, education, and outreach.
Examples: Scientists, academics, researchers & students from universities, research institutions, secondary education providers, civil society organisations etc..
Land health
The capacity of land, relative to its potential, to sustain the delivery of ecosystem services.
Manure
Manure is a type of fertilization composed of livestock excrements, as such or including bedding material.
Mineralisation
The degradation of organically bound elements (N, P, S) by soil biota into plant-available (inorganic) forms.
Monitoring soil quality
Tracking trends in quantitative indicators or the functional capacity of the soil to determine the success of management practices or the need for additional management changes. Monitoring involves the orderly collection, analysis, and interpretation of data from the same locations over time. (Compare to assessing.)
Mulching
Farming practice that involves covering the soil surface, typically with organic materials or plastic sheets, to promote soil and water conservation, control weeds, deter pests, and maintain favourable and stable conditions for plant growth.
Mycorrhizae
Literally means “fungus root” and is a symbiotic (mutually beneficial) relationship between fungus and plant roots. The fungus supplies water and nutrients to the plant roots while the plant supplies carbohydrates. Plant roots typically can explore no more than 1% of the soil volume but with mycorrhizal fungus (which attach themselves to the plant root cell walls) association, approximately 20% of the soil volume may be explored. Over 80% of plants have a mycorrhizal association but these fungus populations are reduced by conventional tillage and high fertilizer applications of nitrogen and phosphorus.
Natural capital
Refers to both the living (e.g., fish stocks, forests) and non-living (e.g., minerals, energy resources) aspects of nature. It is the stock of ecosystems on Earth, including air, water, biodiversity, and geodiversity. This stock underpins our economy and society by producing value for people, both directly and indirectly. Goods and services provided to humans by sustainably managed natural capital include a range of social and environmental benefits, such as clean air and water, climate change mitigation and adaptation, food, energy, places to live, materials for products, recreation, and protection from hazards.
No tillage
The key agronomic practice in Conservation Agriculture for annual crops. It is defined as a farming method that avoids disturbing the soil through tillage. In no-tillage, at least 30% of the area should be covered by plant residues immediately after crop establishment. Crops are sown using machinery capable of placing seeds through the plant residues from previous crops.
No-tillage is the primary agronomic practice that characterises Conservation Agriculture for annual crops, and it offers the highest level of soil conservation. This is because it eliminates mechanical tillage of the soil. Additionally, in arid climates, no-tillage helps retain water in the soil by reducing evaporation losses from the soil surface, which are typically increased by conventional tillage involving soil inversion.
Organic farming
Production system that avoids synthetic chemicals and promotes natural practices to grow crops and raise livestock. It prioritizes environmental and soil health while avoiding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) , synthetic pesticides, and antibiotics. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.
Organic fertilizer
Fertilizers that consist of plant or animal-based materials that result from byproducts or end products of naturally occurring processes, such as animal manure and composted organic matter.
Oxidation
The addition of oxygen, removal of hydrogen, or the removal of electrons from an element or compound. In the environment, organic matter is oxidized to more stable substances. Oxidation is the opposite of ‘reduction’. Oxidation of organic matter is termed ‘burning’, and that of iron ‘rusting’.
P-Q
Plant available water
Total amount of water in the root zone that is available for evapotranspiration. It is water retained in the soil between the states of field capacity and permanent wilting point. Usually expressed in mm. The more plant available water, the greater the productivity and biological activity of the soil.
Graphic illustration of the effect of soil grain size on plant-available water capacity after Hantley (2023; 5)
Source: Huntley (2023). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18923-4_6,
Pollutant
Substance or compound present in the soil (or groundwater) which, due to its properties, amount or concentration, causes adverse impacts on soil function and negatively affects soil biota and other living biota.
Soil protection
A conscious process necessary to preserve the soil and its properties, carried out at different levels (personal, local, national, continental) and using information obtained from soil research for the sustainable management of soils.
R
Reduction
The addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or the addition of electrons to an element or compound. Under anaerobic conditions- redox conditions (where there is no dissolved oxygen present) such as in ‘gley’ soils, sulphur compounds are reduced to odour-producing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and other compounds. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation.
Residue
Any organic material generated during the production, processing or consumption of crops, ranging from roots, stubbles, straw and leaves, to industrial and urban ‘wastes’.
Resilience
The ability of a system and its component parts to anticipate, absorb, accommodate, or recover from the effects of a hazardous event in a timely and efficient manner, including ensuring the preservation, restoration, or improvement of its essential basic structure and function.
Resistance
The ability of an ecosystem to withstand a stress or perturbation without adverse changes to its structure or function, thereby maintaining an equilibrium state.
S
Salinization
Accumulation of soluble salts (more soluble than gypsum) in the upper soil layers (saline soil = soil containing enough soluble salts to negatively affect most crop plants, commonly 4000 μS m-1).
Slury
Slurry is a mixture of animal manure and water, often with additional organic matter, that is semi-liquid in consistency. It is commonly produced in livestock farming systems, particularly in housed or confined animal operations such as dairy, pig, and poultry farms. Slurry is typically collected from animal housing areas and stored in tanks, lagoons, or pits before being applied to agricultural fields as a nutrient-rich fertilizer.
Soil
The biologically active, porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layer of Earth’s crust and that is one of the principal substrata of life on Earth. Soil is a complex, dynamic, and living system that is formed over time through the interaction of physical, chemical, and biological processes. It is composed of mineral particles of varying sizes, organic matter, water, and air, all of which interact to form a matrix that supports plant growth and provides a habitat for soil organisms.
Soil aggregates
Soil aggregates consist of two or more soil particles bound together by various forces. Soil aggregates are soil peds of a range of shapes and sizes
Soil capability
The intrinsic capacity of a soil to deliver/fulfil soil functions.
Soil carbon sequestration
The capacity of a soil to store carbon in a non-labile form with the aim to reduce the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere.
Soil compaction
Changing the nature of the soil such that there is a decrease in the volume of pores between soil particles or aggregates. It is manifested as an increase in bulk density and a severely compacted soil can become significantly less permeable and less aerated. Human dependent compaction is caused by poaching (trampling of animal hooves repeatedly) or by the passage of heavy machinery. Other typical examples are “plough pans” (plough sole or traffic pan) which can be formed due to tillage, and which can negatively affect root development and drainage.
Soil condition
Soil condition refers to the state of the soil, which includes its physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and the processes and interactions that connect them; which in turn determines the capacity of the soil to support ecosystem services.
Soil contamination
The presence of a chemical or substance in the soil in a concentration that may be harmful to human health or the environment. Contamination may have a direct toxic effect on the plants, animals or humans living in, on, or from that soil, or have an indirect toxic effect due to accumulation in the whole trophic chain.
Soil degradation
Negative process often accelerated by human activities (improper soil use and cultivation practices, soil sealing) that leads to deterioration of soil properties and functions or destruction of soil as a whole, e.g., compaction, erosion, salinisation.
Soil ecosystem services
The soil-related subset of ecosystem services directly and quantifiably controlled or provided by soils and their chemical, physical and biological properties, processes and functions.
Soil Fertility
The ability of the soil to supply essential nutrients and soil water in adequate amounts and proportions for plant growth and reproduction. Characterized by favourable chemical, physical, and biological properties as a habitat for plant growth.
Soil functions
Ecosystem functions are directly and indirectly associated with soil. Soils perform many functions, and healthy soil gives us clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive rangeland, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Soil does all this by performing five essential functions:
1. Nutrient Cycling—Soil stores, moderates the release of, and cycles nutrients and other elements. During these biogeochemical processes, analogous to the water cycle, nutrients can be transformed into plant available forms, held in the soil, or even lost to air or water.
2. Water Relations—Soil can regulate the drainage, flow, and storage of water and solutes, which includes nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, and other nutrients and compounds dissolved in the water. With proper functioning, soil partitions water for groundwater recharge and for use by plants and soil animals.
3. Biodiversity and Habitat—Soil supports the growth of a variety of plants, animals, and soil microorganisms, usually by providing a diverse physical, chemical, and biological habitat.
4. Filtering and Buffering—Soil acts as a filter to protect the quality of water, air, and other resources. Toxic compounds or excess nutrients can be neutralized, transformed, or otherwise made unavailable to plants and animals.
5. Physical Stability and Support—Soil has the ability to maintain its porous structure and regulate passage of air, gases, and water, withstand erosive forces, support heavy loads, and provide a medium for plant roots.
Soil health
Soil is the basis of 95% of our food. If soils are healthy, they provide essential ecosystem services such as clean water and habitats for biodiversity. They are major carbon reservoirs, which help slow the onset of climate change while making us more resilient to extreme climatic events. Soils are a key part of the landscapes that we all cherish and are the basis of our economy and prosperity. Healthy soil is a continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system.
Regenerative farming
Science-based approach to farming and land management that focuses on restoring and enhancing soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions while improving agricultural productivity and resilience. It employs practices that actively regenerate degraded soils and ecosystems, creating a positive feedback loop that benefits both the environment and agricultural systems. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of soil, plants, animals, and humans, aiming to create a regenerative cycle that enhances ecosystem services and supports long-term agricultural sustainability.
Land grabbing
Land grabbing is the control – whether through ownership, lease, concession, contracts, quotas, or general power – of larger than locally-typical amounts of land by any persons or entities – public or private, foreign or domestic – via any means – ‘legal’ or ‘illegal’ – for purposes of speculation, extraction, resource control or commodification at the expense of local farmers, agroecology, land stewardship, food sovereignty and human rights.
Planetary health
For planetary health, soil contributes to multiple critical processes, including through biomass production, by regulating the carbon pool, providing a habitat for 25% of global biodiversity, cycling the nutrients upon which terrestrial systems depend, and cycling water. Soil degradation directly harms planetary health and reduces the ability of soil to support health of future human generations.
Soil horizon
One of the layers that form in the soil profile as a result of soil-forming processes. A horizon can appear as a marked visible layer, more usually horizons boundaries are more subtle. In garden soils and where there has been much soil movement these layers may be lost or harder to observe,
Permaculture
Permaculture creates agriculturally productive ecosystems that mimic the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems. Permaculture aims to develop a landscape that will be self-sustaining and productive for generations. It is a regenerative farming system that encompasses a set of agricultural practices, a design system to select, combine, and arrange those practices, and also the resulting agroecological farming system. It can be used on a scale from balcony crops to multiple hectares.
Soil genesis
The process of transformation from rock materials into soil profiles. Soils are formed under the influence of the main elements of the natural environment, i.e. parent materials, relief, climate, living organisms and time (Dokuchaev, 1883) under the influence of human activity. These soil-forming factors act together, and the morphology and properties of individual soils depend on the local arrangements of these factors.
Soil type
Soil type is a conceptual and highly generalized unit used in soil science in many soil classification systems. Soil type is defined mainly on the basis of characteristics resulting from soil-forming processes (pedogenesis). Soils having a certain sequence of genetic horizons and certain properties form a specific soil type.
Soil independent agriculture
A method of farming that does not rely on traditional soil-based cultivation. This approach utilizes alternative growing mediums, such as hydroponics, aeroponics, or aquaponics, to produce crops. Soil independent agriculture aims to optimize resource use, minimize land degradation, and enhance food production in urban or arid environments where soil quality may be poor or unavailable. This method often emphasizes sustainability, efficiency, and the ability to control environmental factors for improved crop yield.
Soil enriching plants
Plants that improve soil fertility and health through various mechanisms, such as nitrogen fixation or organic matter addition. An example is legumes known for their ability to enrich the quality of the soil by fixing nitrogen. This process significantly increases soil fertility and promotes the growth of subsequent crops, hence legumes are essential in sustainable farming systems. In addition, rye, oats, buckwheat and sorghum-sudangrass also play the role of soil enriching plants.
Living system
In the context of environmental science, refers to any biological entity or community that interacts with its environment and exhibits the characteristics of life. This includes not only individual organisms but also populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere as a whole. Examples of living systems are ecosystems, microbial communities or food webs.
Understanding living systems is essential for developing sustainable environmental practices and policies aimed at preserving biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Characterizations of living systems:
Interconnectedness: Living systems are characterized by complex interactions among various components, including organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) and their physical environment (soil, water, air). These interactions can affect nutrient cycling, energy flow, and overall ecosystem health.
Adaptation and Evolution: Living systems adapt to environmental changes over time through evolutionary processes. This adaptability is crucial for survival in changing climates and ecosystems.
Sustainability: In environmental science, living systems emphasize sustainability—the ability to maintain ecological balance and support life over the long term. This includes practices that promote biodiversity and resilience against environmental stressors.
Ecosystem Services: Living systems provide essential services such as pollination, water purification, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility. Understanding these services is vital for managing natural resources and addressing environmental challenges.
Human Impact: Human activities significantly influence living systems through pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and resource exploitation. Environmental science seeks to understand these impacts and develop strategies for mitigation and restoration.
Value
In the context of environmental science, value refers to the importance or significance attributed to natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity. This can encompass various dimensions, including ecological, economic, social, and intrinsic values.
Ecological Value: This pertains to the role that ecosystems play in maintaining biodiversity and supporting life processes. For example, inland waters in Antarctica are recognized for their unique biodiversity and biological production, which are critical for sustaining species that may be endemic to polar regions.
Economic Value: This includes the tangible benefits derived from natural resources, such as timber, minerals, and ecosystem services like clean water and air. The economic value is often assessed through market-based approaches or cost-benefit analyses that quantify the financial benefits of preserving natural habitats.
Social Value: This reflects the cultural and recreational significance of natural areas for communities. It includes aspects such as aesthetic appreciation, spiritual connections to nature, and the recreational opportunities that ecosystems provide.
Intrinsic Value: This concept suggests that nature has value in and of itself, independent of its utility to humans. It argues for the protection of ecosystems based on their inherent worth.
Soil literacy
Soil literacy is the understanding and knowledge of soil’s role in ecosystems, agriculture, and environmental health. It encompasses awareness of soil composition, functions, and management practices that promote sustainable land use.
The key aspects of soil literacy are:
Understanding the importance of soil composition: Knowing the physical and chemical properties of soil, including mineralogical composition, organic matter content and moisture status.
Soil functions: Awareness of the various roles soil plays, such as supporting plant growth, regulating the water cycle, storing carbon and providing a habitat for organisms.
Soil management practices: Knowledge of sustainable practices that improve soil health, such as crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage and the use of organic amendments.
Impact on ecosystems: Recognizing how soil health impacts broader environmental issues such as biodiversity, climate change and water quality.
Community engagement: Encouraging local communities to engage with soil issues through education and participatory practices.
Soil literacy is crucial for fostering sustainable agricultural practices and promoting environmental stewardship. It empowers individuals and communities to make informed decisions regarding land use and conservation efforts.
New communication methods
Innovative strategies and technologies that facilitate the exchange of information between individuals, organizations, and the public. These methods encompass a range of digital tools and platforms that enhance interaction, engagement, and accessibility in various contexts, particularly in education and public communication,
Engaging methodologies
Innovative approaches that actively involve participants in the learning process or communication efforts. These methodologies are designed to foster interaction, collaboration, and critical thinking, enhancing the effectiveness of educational and communicative initiatives. They are characterized by interactivity, relevance, feedback mechanism and use of technology.
Holistic approach
A methodology that considers the whole system rather than focusing solely on individual components. This approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of various elements within a system, recognizing that changes in one area can significantly impact others. A holistic approach integrates various perspectives and disciplines to provide a more complete understanding of a problem and its context. This methodology promotes collaboration among stakeholders and encourages solutions that are sustainable and effective across different domains. It is often applied in fields such as healthcare, education, environmental science, and social policy.
Care
The provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something. This definition encompasses a broad range of activities and attitudes aimed at fostering well-being and support. Care is seen as activities aimed at supporting the needs of individuals and providing support to improve their quality of life.
Accessibility
Design of products, devices, services, or environments for people with disabilities. It encompasses the ease with which individuals can access and benefit from various resources, including physical spaces, digital content, and information services. Accessibility aims to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have equal opportunities to participate in society. In a broader sense, it includes the usability of environments and services by people with diverse needs. This concept is crucial in various fields such as architecture, web design, education, and public policy.
Transdisciplinarity
Integrates knowledge from various disciplines and non-academic sources to address complex problems, focusing on collaboration across fields. Research approach that integrates knowledge from different academic disciplines and involves collaboration with non-academic stakeholders to address complex societal challenges. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of various fields and aims to create holistic solutions by combining diverse perspectives and expertise from different disciplines. Integration level is high, and disciplines and stakeholders work together.
Multisectoral approache
The collaboration of researchers from different disciplines to address a specific issue, where each discipline contributes its unique knowledge and techniques, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the problem. Integration level is low, and disciplines work in parallel.
Trace elements
They are understood as indicators or remnants that provide evidence of previous events or conditions. This can include physical marks left in the environment, such as soil samples indicating past land use, or chemical traces that reveal information about pollution levels or ecological changes. These are elements present in very small quantities in a given environment, typically less than 100 parts per million (ppm) or 100 mg/kg. They can be essential or toxic to organisms, depending on their concentration. Elements like arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb) are often studied as trace elements due to their potential environmental and health impacts.
Environmental tracers
These are substances used to track the movement of water, contaminants, or other substances within the environment. Stable isotopes and noble gases are commonly used as tracers to study processes like groundwater flow, contaminant transport, and biogeochemical cycles.
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