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Biological aspects of soil protection
Author(s) -
Wood M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1991.tb00863.x
Subject(s) - soil functions , soil quality , environmental science , soil fertility , soil biodiversity , soil water , environmental resource management , environmental protection , ecology , biology , soil science
. Soil provides an environment for all forms of life, from viruses and bacteria to trees, and these soil inhabitants play many important roles in soil development and in the maintenance of soil fertility. Policies for protection of soil should therefore include criteria for the biological quality of soil. The establishment of such criteria can only be based on an understanding of the function of the different groups of soil organisms, including the interactions between these groups which give rise to such processes as mineralization of organic matter. However, we are only beginning to understand this most complex of ecosystems. Current information is reviewed and the problems of establishing biological standards for soil are considered. Much of the discussion on assessment of pesticide side effects is relevant to this topic, and the future need to quantify risk associated with the introduction of genetically‐engineered organisms into soils is likely to stimulate further debate on this topic.