1,721,223 research outputs found
Soil genetic erosion: a new concept for a new environmental challenge and a new soil paradigm
No full textThe author proposes a new concept of soil erosion to shed new light on soil erosion an ecological environment conservation in order that politicians and administrators could pay great attention to preserve soil resources. A new concept of soil erosion is suggested by proposing ideas, explaining concepts, summarizing and case studies. The economic value should be assigned to the soil ecosystem services and the new concept of soil erosion that could be called “soil genetic erosion” is proposed. Soils are very diverse natural resources that positively affect and promote the economy of the social systems if they are maintained in good health
Un concetto di suolo per valorizzare i servizi ecosistemici nell’economia del dopo Covid 19
No full textChanges in land use and soil management and the introduction of new technologies which exploiting environmental resources have in many cases led to an increase in soil degradation. A new definition of soil could be useful because it could lead to the genesis of a new discipline that we could call pedo-economics
Importance of Soil Science in the European Green Deal : Congress Inauguration Statement
Full text linkThis is the Congress inauguration statement of Professor Carmelo Dazzi (President of the European Society for Soil Conservation) to the international conference “Sustainable Management of Cultural Landscapes in the context of the European Green Deal”, held in Santo Stefano di Camastra (Sicily, Italy) jointly organized by the European Society for Soil Conservation and the European Ecocycles Society on November 9-14, 2021
Pedotechnique application and soil security in intensive viticulture: an (im)possible link!
No full textSince ancient times Man and Soil have experienced interwoven links. Nowadays
soil scientists continue to stress such links highlighting the importance of soil to
provide man’s growing demand for food, water and energy, and also the soil’s im-
portance in providing ecosystem services that affect climate change, human health
and biodiversity.
In soil management for agricultural purposes, pedotechniques to tailor soils suita-
ble for table grapes cultivation in large-scale farming are used to get substantial fi-
nancial returns. However, farmers in tailoring soils for high income crops, fre-
quently do not take into account the fundamental objective of the pedotechnique, i.
e. to meet the needs of man, avoiding any undesirable environmental consequences
that may occur during handling of earthy materials. Indeed, we should consider that
any human intervention on the environment, could originate new soilscapes and
new soils whose security should be verified.
In this note, we report on an emblematic case study of pedotechniques application
in Sicily (Italy). After stressing the threats to soil security derived by the presence
of anthropogenically tailored soils for table grapes cultivation, we assess their eco-
nomic sustainability, taking into consideration only the internal factors and exclud-
ing the external economic contributions that are allocated to social sustainability.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the financial investment, results have been com-
pared with profitability data related to traditional crops without pedotechniques ap-
plication. Results highlight that the transformation of the soilscape, from one hand,
allows for considerable investment costs, on the other hand, the highest productivi-
ty and the consequent higher profitability of the cultivation, compared to the con-
ventional crops, allow to amortize the startup costs. We cannot ignore that this
transformation could trigger potentially a considerable decrease in quality of the
environment and in pedodiversity
A new definition of soil to promote soil awareness, sustainability, security and governance
Full text linkIn these last decades, the awareness that soil is a very important resource for humans has noticeably increased. Many actions and initiatives to promote soil governance, aiming at sustainable soil management and soil security have been undertaken by several national and international institutions and in many countries. Analysis of the changes of soil perception over the centuries allows highlighting a perfect harmony between the evolution of soil awareness and the level of knowledge and technology achieved by humans during their history and evolution. Notwithstanding these many achievements, soils continue to be scarcely considered in politics and society. We suggest some thoughts and reflections that could lead to an up-to-date and effective definition of soil that directly focuses the public attention on its economic value. In our opinion, soil economic value could be the only aspect that truly attracts the attention of politicians and administrators, which could increase soil awareness and encourage soil sustainability, security and Sustainable Development Goals and finally promote soil governance
Our Soils: No Longer Crypto-Resources
No full textWe all have to consider the soil as a good for a human
society that is continuously changing and in which the boost toward a continuous economic
growth and a rapid technological development, coupled with the progressive increase of the
information, often causes considerable and unpredictable changes. The achievement of these
goals is based on a sound and comprehensive knowledge of the soils of each country.
I wish to welcome the book The Soils of Egypt and to congratulate with the authors
Experimental and theoretical studies in Psychology: Ph.D. students'contributions from the Psychology of Padua University
No full text--
The influence of industrial emissions of zinc plant on the properties of chernozem soil.
No full textEast Kazakhstan is a storehouse of ore raw materials. Here the main ore-mining industrial
objects are concentrated. Most of these deposits and ore deposits are characterized
by polymetallic and substantially lead-zinc ore composition. When developing
ore deposits, the soil-vegetation cover of the territories is disturbed, and
sometimes their complete destruction occurs. On the investigated object leached
and podzolized chernozems are widespread. The study of the soil cover at the territories
adjacent to the zinc plant showed a negative impact of the plant's emissions
on the soil and vegetation cover. Thus, where there is a major outflow from the
wind rose, there are manifestations of deep erosion processes. The main release is
actively manifested in a radius of 2 km., but the effect takes place at a distance of
10-20 km. The soil cover adjacent to the zinc plant of the territory is devoid of
vegetation and subjected to erosion processes. Raws, grooves, aryks were formed,
continuous washing of the upper layers of the chernozem soil into the river goes
on.
Studies of physical, physicochemical, chemical and biological properties of soil
have shown a negative impact of plant emissions on the main parameters of soil
fertility. Thus, the granulometric composition changes due to the accumulation of
fine silty-silt fractions and a more compact, washable illuvial horizon is formed.
The volumetric mass of degraded contaminated soils is higher than in chernozem
soils of undisturbed landscapes. Emissions of heavy metal plant destroys the composition
of organic acids, which, accordingly, affects the aggregate state. Absorbed
calcium is expelled, aggregates are destroyed and condensation occurs, especially
in the upper horizon.
The content of common humus in undisturbed landscapes in the upper horizon is
6.7%. The leached chernozem eroded with a partial rinse of the humus horizon loses
up to 20% of humus and contains 4.9%. Heavy metals in the soil exceed the
MPC in two to ten times. The main pollutants are zinc, lead, copper. Pollution affected
the qualitative and quantitative composition of soil biota
- …
