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A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Literature review › peer-review

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A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK. / Gregory, A. S.; Ritz, K.; Mcgrath, S. P. et al.
In: Soil Use and Management, Vol. 31, No. Suppl. 1, 10.2015, p. 1-15.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Literature review › peer-review

Harvard

Gregory, AS, Ritz, K, Mcgrath, SP, Quinton, JN, Goulding, KWT, Jones, RJA, Harris, JA, Bol, R, Wallace, P, Pilgrim, ES & Whitmore, AP 2015, 'A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK', Soil Use and Management, vol. 31, no. Suppl. 1, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12212

APA

Gregory, A. S., Ritz, K., Mcgrath, S. P., Quinton, J. N., Goulding, K. W. T., Jones, R. J. A., Harris, J. A., Bol, R., Wallace, P., Pilgrim, E. S., & Whitmore, A. P. (2015). A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK. Soil Use and Management, 31(Suppl. 1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12212

Vancouver

Gregory AS, Ritz K, Mcgrath SP, Quinton JN, Goulding KWT, Jones RJA et al. A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK. Soil Use and Management. 2015 Oct;31(Suppl. 1):1-15. Epub 2015 Oct 12. doi: 10.1111/sum.12212

Author

Gregory, A. S. ; Ritz, K. ; Mcgrath, S. P. et al. / A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK. In: Soil Use and Management. 2015 ; Vol. 31, No. Suppl. 1. pp. 1-15.

Bibtex

@article{652f2b6f5ac4408296f6bb55942f9011,
title = "A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK",
abstract = "National governments are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of their soil resources and are shaping strategies accordingly. Implicit in any such strategy is that degradation threats and their potential effect on important soil properties and functions are defined and understood. In this paper, we aimed to review the principal degradation threats on important soil properties in the UK, seeking quantitative data where possible. Soil erosion results in the removal of important topsoil and, with it, nutrients, C and porosity. A decline in soil organic matter principally affects soil biological and microbiological properties, but also impacts on soil physical properties because of the link with soil structure. Soil contamination affects soil chemical properties, affecting nutrient availability and degrading microbial properties, whilst soil compaction degrades the soil pore network. Soil sealing removes the link between the soil and most of the spheres', significantly affecting hydrological and microbial functions, and soils on re-developed brownfield sites are typically degraded in most soil properties. Having synthesized the literature on the impact on soil properties, we discuss potential subsequent impacts on the important soil functions, including food and fibre production, storage of water and C, support for biodiversity, and protection of cultural and archaeological heritage. Looking forward, we suggest a twin approach of field-based monitoring supported by controlled laboratory experimentation to improve our mechanistic understanding of soils. This would enable us to better predict future impacts of degradation processes, including climate change, on soil properties and functions so that we may manage soil resources sustainably.",
keywords = "Soil erosion, soil organic matter, soil contamination, soil compaction, soil functions, climate change, LEGUMINOSARUM-BIOVAR-TRIFOLII, HEAVY-METAL CONTAMINATION, TERM FIELD EXPERIMENTS, ORGANIC-MATTER, MICROBIAL COMMUNITY, CLIMATE-CHANGE, AGRICULTURAL SOILS, SEWAGE-SLUDGE, CARBON LOSSES, PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS",
author = "Gregory, {A. S.} and K. Ritz and Mcgrath, {S. P.} and Quinton, {J. N.} and Goulding, {K. W. T.} and Jones, {R. J. A.} and Harris, {J. A.} and R. Bol and P. Wallace and Pilgrim, {E. S.} and Whitmore, {A. P.}",
year = "2015",
month = oct,
doi = "10.1111/sum.12212",
language = "English",
volume = "31",
pages = "1--15",
journal = "Soil Use and Management",
issn = "0266-0032",
publisher = "Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
number = "Suppl. 1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A review of the impacts of degradation threats on soil properties in the UK

AU - Gregory, A. S.

AU - Ritz, K.

AU - Mcgrath, S. P.

AU - Quinton, J. N.

AU - Goulding, K. W. T.

AU - Jones, R. J. A.

AU - Harris, J. A.

AU - Bol, R.

AU - Wallace, P.

AU - Pilgrim, E. S.

AU - Whitmore, A. P.

PY - 2015/10

Y1 - 2015/10

N2 - National governments are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of their soil resources and are shaping strategies accordingly. Implicit in any such strategy is that degradation threats and their potential effect on important soil properties and functions are defined and understood. In this paper, we aimed to review the principal degradation threats on important soil properties in the UK, seeking quantitative data where possible. Soil erosion results in the removal of important topsoil and, with it, nutrients, C and porosity. A decline in soil organic matter principally affects soil biological and microbiological properties, but also impacts on soil physical properties because of the link with soil structure. Soil contamination affects soil chemical properties, affecting nutrient availability and degrading microbial properties, whilst soil compaction degrades the soil pore network. Soil sealing removes the link between the soil and most of the spheres', significantly affecting hydrological and microbial functions, and soils on re-developed brownfield sites are typically degraded in most soil properties. Having synthesized the literature on the impact on soil properties, we discuss potential subsequent impacts on the important soil functions, including food and fibre production, storage of water and C, support for biodiversity, and protection of cultural and archaeological heritage. Looking forward, we suggest a twin approach of field-based monitoring supported by controlled laboratory experimentation to improve our mechanistic understanding of soils. This would enable us to better predict future impacts of degradation processes, including climate change, on soil properties and functions so that we may manage soil resources sustainably.

AB - National governments are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of their soil resources and are shaping strategies accordingly. Implicit in any such strategy is that degradation threats and their potential effect on important soil properties and functions are defined and understood. In this paper, we aimed to review the principal degradation threats on important soil properties in the UK, seeking quantitative data where possible. Soil erosion results in the removal of important topsoil and, with it, nutrients, C and porosity. A decline in soil organic matter principally affects soil biological and microbiological properties, but also impacts on soil physical properties because of the link with soil structure. Soil contamination affects soil chemical properties, affecting nutrient availability and degrading microbial properties, whilst soil compaction degrades the soil pore network. Soil sealing removes the link between the soil and most of the spheres', significantly affecting hydrological and microbial functions, and soils on re-developed brownfield sites are typically degraded in most soil properties. Having synthesized the literature on the impact on soil properties, we discuss potential subsequent impacts on the important soil functions, including food and fibre production, storage of water and C, support for biodiversity, and protection of cultural and archaeological heritage. Looking forward, we suggest a twin approach of field-based monitoring supported by controlled laboratory experimentation to improve our mechanistic understanding of soils. This would enable us to better predict future impacts of degradation processes, including climate change, on soil properties and functions so that we may manage soil resources sustainably.

KW - Soil erosion

KW - soil organic matter

KW - soil contamination

KW - soil compaction

KW - soil functions

KW - climate change

KW - LEGUMINOSARUM-BIOVAR-TRIFOLII

KW - HEAVY-METAL CONTAMINATION

KW - TERM FIELD EXPERIMENTS

KW - ORGANIC-MATTER

KW - MICROBIAL COMMUNITY

KW - CLIMATE-CHANGE

KW - AGRICULTURAL SOILS

KW - SEWAGE-SLUDGE

KW - CARBON LOSSES

KW - PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

U2 - 10.1111/sum.12212

DO - 10.1111/sum.12212

M3 - Literature review

VL - 31

SP - 1

EP - 15

JO - Soil Use and Management

JF - Soil Use and Management

SN - 0266-0032

IS - Suppl. 1

ER -