Soil Science Research Awards, 2003

2004 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 1102-1112
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Soil Science

scholarly journals Soil Security in Sustainable Development

Soil Systems ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Bouma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Climate Mitigation ◽  
Clear Guideline ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Five Cs ◽  
Definition Of

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an excellent channel to demonstrate the significance of soils when considering e.g., food production, water availability, climate mitigation and biodiversity preservation. For environmental sciences, including soil science, the SDGs provide “a point at the horizon” for future research. Progress to achieve the SDGs by 2030 will bureaucratically be monitored by targets and indicators but questions as to how effective research should be organized remain unanswered so far. The soil security concept, based on the five Cs (capability, condition, capital, connectivity and codification) can provide a clear guideline for soil science research, defining soil functions contributing to interdisciplinary ecosystem services that, in turn, can define measures to reach SDGs. A “storyline” is proposed linking the five Cs, emphasizing connectivity that becomes increasingly important in our modern “fact-free” world. The traditional linear research model does not apply when characterizing SDGs because of many conflicting interests that don’t allow definition of specific “solutions”. But different action-perspectives can be defined as a basis for decision making, creating much needed transparency in the decision process. Soil contributions are most effective when framed in the context of soil-water-atmosphere-plant models. Proper codification, including clear and candid communication with stakeholders, is essential to link science with society, a link that needs improvement.

scholarly journals Application of Soil Science Research to the Determination of the Pollution Resistance Potential of Landscape

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
Ewa Malinowska
Keyword(s):  
Soil Profile ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Chemical Substance ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Real Complex ◽  
Environment Condition

Abstract The environment resistance potential is defined as the ability of the landscape to limit the negative pollutant impact consisting a.o.in the limiting, by means of accumulation, of the amount of pollutants circulating in the environment system. In practice, their quantity is contigent on the proporties of the components, which are capable of a relatively long-lasting chemical substance accumulation (thus, above all, the properties of the soil cover). The forecast model of environment changes describes the mechanisms and distribution rate of pollution in the soil profile and the interaction with the functional landscape structure. The methodological assumptions, determining of the real, complex diagnosis of the environment condition and for forecasting of the effects of the persisting anthropopressure and for establishing the necessary measures limiting the progressing degradation. Knowing, even approximatively, the mechanism of the existing changes one can determine the optimal (under circumstances) level of pollutant input, and when its limitation is impossible, one can control the use of the environmental potential in such a way as to minimize its negative impact.

scholarly journals Facing policy challenges with inter- and transdisciplinary soil research focused on the SDG's

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Bouma ◽  
Luca Montanarella
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Joint Activities

Abstract. Our current information society, populated by increasingly well informed and critical stakeholders, presents a challenge to both the policy and science arena's. The introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals offers a unique and welcome opportunity to direct joint activities towards these goals. Soil science, even though it is not mentioned as such, plays an important role in realizing a number of SDG's focusing on food, water, climate, health, biodiversity and sustainable land use. A plea is made for a systems approach to land use studies, to be initated by soil scientists, in which these land-related SDG's are considered in an integrated manner. To connect with policy makers and stakeholders two approaches are functional, following: (i) the policy cycle when planning and executing research, which includes signaling, design, decision, implementation and evaluation. Many current research projects spend little time on signaling which may lead to disengagement of stakeholders. Also, implementation is often seen as the responsibility of others while it is crucial to demonstrate – if successful – the relevance of soil science and (ii) the DPSIR approach when following the policy cycle in land-related research, distinguishing external drivers, pressures, impacts and responses to land-use change that affect the state of the land in past, present and future. Soil science cannot by itself realize SDG's and interdisciplinary studies on Ecosystem Services (ES) provide an appropriate channel to define contributions of soil science in terms of the seven soil functions. ES, in turn, can contribute to addressing the six SDG's (2, 3, 6, 12, 13 and 15) with an environmental, land-related character. SDG's have a societal focus and future soil science research can only be successful if stakeholders are part of the research effort in transdisciplinary projects, based on the principle of time-consuming "joint-learning". The internal organization of the soil science discipline is not yet well – tuned to the needs of inter – and transdisciplinary approaches.

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