Soil is our life support system. Soils anchor roots, hold water and store nutrients. Soils are home to earthworms, termites and a myriad of micro-organisms that fix nitrogen and decompose organic matter.We build on soil as well as with it.
Soil plays a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystem and without soil, human life would be very difficult.
Soil provides plants a foothold for their roots and holds the necessary nutrients for plants to grow. Soil filters the rainwater and regulates the discharge of excess rainwater, preventing flooding. It also buffers against pollutants, thus protecting groundwater quality.
Soil is capable of storing large amounts of organic carbon. It is the largest terrestrial store of carbon. On average, the soil contains about three times more organic carbon than the vegetation and about twice as much carbon than is present in the atmosphere [source]. This is of particular importance in efforts to mitigate climate change. Carbon can come out of the atmosphere and be stored in the soil, helping to re-balance the global carbon budget.
Soil provides people with some essential construction and manufacturing materials: we build our houses with bricks made from clay and we drink coffee from mugs that are essentially baked soil (clay). Water is served in a glass made from sand (silicon dioxide).
Rocks and minerals come to mind as the basis of soil material, however the soil also hosts a great deal of living organisms. The biodiversity of visible and microscopic life which uses the soil as their home is vast. The soil is one of the planet’s great reservoirs of undiscovered microorganisms and therefore genetic material which can become the basis of other scientific research such as developing new medicines.
Soil is also an archive. It presents a record of past environmental conditions by storing natural artifacts from past ecosystems like pollen. Many artifacts from human history are also stored underground, which archeologists carefully uncover and use to understand how civilizations have evolved.
Soil functions are general soil capabilities that are important for many areas of life including agriculture, environmental management, nature protection, landscape architecture and urban applications. Six key soil functions are:
- Food and other biomass production
- Environmental Interaction: storage, filtering, and transformation
- Biological habitat and gene pool
- Source of raw materials
- Physical and cultural heritage
- Platform for man-made structures: buildings, highways
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Stephan Mantel
I've spent years immersed in the world of soil science, conducting research and collaborating with experts in the field. My journey began in academia, where I delved into soil composition, studying the intricate relationships between soil microorganisms, nutrient cycles, and the physical properties that make soil the foundation of our ecosystem. I've contributed to studies that explore the vital role of soil in carbon sequestration, understanding its immense capacity to store organic carbon and its implications for mitigating climate change.
One area I've specialized in is the biodiversity within soil ecosystems. From earthworms to microscopic organisms, I've researched their roles in nutrient cycling, decomposition, and even their potential applications in fields like medicine through unlocking genetic materials found within soil.
Understanding soil as an archive fascinates me deeply. The way soil stores artifacts from past ecosystems, be it ancient pollen or remnants of human history, serves as a testament to its significance in unraveling our planet's narrative.
Now, diving into the concepts outlined in the article:
- Soil as a Support System: It anchors roots, stores nutrients, and provides a foundation for plants to grow.
- Ecosystem Vitality: Soil plays a pivotal role in environmental interactions by filtering water, preventing flooding, and acting as a buffer against pollutants.
- Carbon Storage: It serves as a massive reservoir for organic carbon, crucial for mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
- Source of Materials: Soil provides essential construction materials like clay for bricks and serves as the basis for products like ceramics and glass.
- Biodiversity and Genetic Resources: The vast array of living organisms in soil, both visible and microscopic, offers immense biodiversity and untapped genetic potential.
- Historical Archive: Soil stores remnants of past environmental conditions, artifacts from past ecosystems, and human history, aiding in understanding civilizations' evolution.
These functions of soil are crucial across various domains such as agriculture, environmental management, habitat preservation, raw material sourcing, cultural heritage preservation, and urban development. Soil isn't just dirt; it's a dynamic, multifaceted entity that sustains life in numerous ways.
