ABSTRACT
Soil degradation of cropland (Miao et al. 2011), pastureland (Muller et al. 2004; Martinez and Zinck 2004), forestland (Kasel and Bennett 2007), and the land under villages in tropical environments including footpaths (De Meyer et al. 2011) is a serious global issue. The problem is also exacerbated by changing and uncertain climate with an increasing frequency of extreme events. Climate change affects soil moisture and thermal regimes, with strong impacts on soil productivity potential on a global scale (Mueller et al. 2010). With a projected increase in food demand of 70% between 2005 and 2050 (Lele 2010), sustainable management of soil resources following the basic principles discussed in this volume is crucial. As the critical review of the Rio+20 declaration clearly states, there is a striking lack of awareness among policy makers regarding the importance of soil resource management. World soil resources support numerous ecosystem services (ESs) or a multitude of benefits that humans derive from the upper layer of the earth’s crust (e.g., food production, freshwater supply, decomposition of waste). Thus, sustainable management of world soils is essential to the wellbeing of humans and other habitants of the planet Earth. Soil
19.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 521 19.2 Processes, Factors, and Causes of Soil Degradation .................................... 522 19.3 Soil Erosion and Other Degradation Processes ............................................ 523 19.4 Soil Degradation and ESs ............................................................................. 524 19.5 Technological Options .................................................................................. 526
19.5.1 Management of Cropland Soils ........................................................ 526 19.5.2 Pastureland Soils ............................................................................... 528 19.5.3 Management of Soils under Forestland Use ..................................... 529 19.5.4 SQ and Water Security ..................................................................... 529
19.6 Soil Quality Index and Sustainable Management ........................................ 531 19.7 Conclusions ................................................................................................... 531 Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 533 References .............................................................................................................. 533
management involves the manipulation of physical, chemical, and biological properties, such that soil processes underpinning ESs are sustained and risks of degradation of soil quality (SQ) are minimized. The goal of soil management is to optimize and sustain the positives and minimize the risks of negatives (e.g., erosion, salinization, compaction). Thus, the objective of this chapter is to describe the rationale for science-based management of soils and outline the basis of priorities for research, development, and outreach, and the need to enhance awareness about the importance of sustainable management of the world’s soil resources.
