12.4 Soils and ecosystem services

Soil functions and ecosystem services are crucial for life on Earth. From nutrient cycling to water regulation, soils provide a diverse array of services that support biodiversity, climate regulation, and pollution control. These functions are intricately linked to soil properties like texture, organic matter content, and pH.

Land use practices significantly impact soil services, with agricultural activities, urbanization, and deforestation altering soil characteristics. To optimize soil management, strategies like conservation agriculture, precision farming, and urban soil management are employed. These approaches aim to preserve soil health and enhance ecosystem services for sustainable land use.

Soil Functions and Ecosystem Services

Diverse services of soils

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• Nutrient cycling facilitates element transfer between biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere
  • Carbon cycle regulates CO2 levels and organic matter decomposition
  • Nitrogen cycle converts atmospheric N2 to plant-available forms (ammonium, nitrate)
  • Phosphorus cycle releases P from minerals and organic matter for plant uptake
  • Sulfur cycle transforms S between organic and inorganic forms
• Water regulation maintains hydrological balance and soil moisture
  • Infiltration allows water penetration into soil layers
  • Water storage retains moisture for plant use (field capacity)
  • Groundwater recharge replenishes aquifers
  • Flood mitigation reduces surface runoff and erosion
• Biodiversity support creates habitats for various organisms
  • Habitat provision sustains soil-dwelling species (earthworms, nematodes)
  • Microbial diversity drives nutrient cycling and organic matter decomposition
  • Soil food web interconnects organisms through energy transfer
• Climate regulation mitigates greenhouse gas emissions
  • Carbon sequestration stores atmospheric CO2 in soil organic matter
  • Greenhouse gas emissions release CO2, CH4, and N2O from soil processes
• Pollution control filters and degrades contaminants
  • Filtration of contaminants removes pollutants from water and air
  • Degradation of pollutants breaks down harmful substances (pesticides)
• Physical support provides foundation for terrestrial ecosystems
  • Foundation for plants and structures anchors vegetation and built environment
• Cultural services preserve history and enable recreation
  • Archaeological preservation maintains artifacts and historical records
  • Recreational activities support outdoor pursuits (gardening, sports)

Soil properties and ecosystem services

• Soil texture and structure influence water and nutrient dynamics
  • Influence on water holding capacity varies with particle size distribution
  • Impact on nutrient retention affects cation exchange and adsorption
  • Effect on root penetration and plant growth determines vegetation establishment
• Soil organic matter enhances soil quality and fertility
  • Role in nutrient cycling releases essential elements through decomposition
  • Contribution to soil structure improves aggregate stability and porosity
  • Influence on water retention increases soil moisture availability
• Soil pH affects nutrient availability and biological activity
  • Effect on nutrient availability alters solubility and plant uptake
  • Impact on microbial activity influences decomposition rates and nutrient cycling
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) determines soil fertility
  • Influence on nutrient retention and availability affects plant nutrition
• Soil porosity regulates water and air movement
  • Relation to water movement and storage affects infiltration and drainage
  • Impact on gas exchange influences root respiration and microbial activity
• Soil depth determines root zone and water storage capacity
  • Influence on plant rooting and water storage affects vegetation growth
• Soil biodiversity drives ecosystem functioning
  • Role in nutrient cycling accelerates element transformations
  • Contribution to soil structure formation improves soil aggregation
• Soil formation processes shape soil properties over time
  • Weathering and its impact on nutrient release breaks down parent material
  • Organic matter accumulation and decomposition builds soil fertility

Land Use and Soil Management

Land use impacts on soil services

• Agricultural practices alter soil properties and functions
  • Tillage effects on soil structure and organic matter disrupt aggregates and accelerate decomposition
  • Fertilizer use and nutrient cycling can lead to imbalances and leaching
  • Crop rotation impacts on soil health improve nutrient cycling and pest control
• Urbanization modifies soil characteristics and hydrology
  • Soil sealing and its effects on water regulation reduce infiltration and increase runoff
  • Compaction and its impact on root growth and water infiltration limits plant establishment
• Deforestation disrupts soil-vegetation interactions
  • Effects on soil organic matter and nutrient cycling deplete soil fertility
  • Impacts on soil erosion and water regulation increase sediment loss and flooding risk
• Wetland drainage alters hydrological and biogeochemical processes
  • Consequences for water regulation and carbon storage include reduced flood mitigation and increased CO2 emissions
• Overgrazing degrades vegetation cover and soil structure
  • Impacts on soil structure and vegetation cover increase erosion risk
• Mining activities transform landscapes and soil properties
  • Effects on soil structure, chemistry, and biodiversity often require extensive remediation
• Soil pollution introduces contaminants into ecosystems
  • Impacts of contaminants on soil organisms and ecosystem functions can persist for decades

Strategies for soil management optimization

• Conservation agriculture minimizes soil disturbance
  • Minimum tillage or no-till practices reduce erosion and preserve soil structure
  • Cover cropping protects soil surface and adds organic matter
  • Crop residue management improves soil organic matter content and nutrient cycling
• Agroforestry systems combine trees and crops
  • Integration of trees in agricultural landscapes enhances biodiversity and soil conservation
• Precision agriculture tailors management to spatial variability
  • Site-specific management based on soil variability optimizes resource use
• Organic farming practices enhance soil biology
  • Compost and manure application increases soil organic matter and nutrient availability
  • Biological pest control reduces chemical inputs and supports soil biodiversity
• Soil erosion control measures protect topsoil
  • Contour plowing reduces runoff on sloped land
  • Terracing creates level planting areas on hillsides
  • Windbreaks reduce wind erosion in open fields
• Wetland restoration reestablishes ecosystem functions
  • Reestablishing hydrological regimes improves water quality and habitat
• Urban soil management improves city environments
  • Green infrastructure implementation reduces urban heat island effect
  • Urban gardening and agriculture increases food security and soil awareness
• Remediation of contaminated soils restores ecosystem health
  • Phytoremediation uses plants to extract or stabilize pollutants
  • Bioremediation employs microorganisms to degrade contaminants
• Sustainable forestry practices maintain forest ecosystem services
  • Selective logging preserves forest structure and biodiversity
  • Reforestation restores degraded areas and sequesters carbon
• Integrated nutrient management optimizes fertilizer use
  • Balanced fertilizer application matches crop needs and soil conditions
  • Legume integration for nitrogen fixation reduces synthetic N inputs
• Water conservation techniques improve water use efficiency
  • Efficient irrigation systems (drip, sprinkler) reduce water waste
  • Rainwater harvesting captures and stores precipitation for later use