Original Research
Vital soil as basis for sustainable soil management, a survey of soil problems in The Netherlands and the way to tackle it, with an assessment for the South African situation
Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie | Vol 25, No 4 | a174 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/satnt.v25i4.174
| © 2006 H. Eijsackers, M. Maboeta, P. Doelman
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 22 September 2006 | Published: 22 September 2006
Submitted: 22 September 2006 | Published: 22 September 2006
About the author(s)
H. Eijsackers, Wageningen Universiteit en Research Centrum, postbus 9101, 6700 HB Wageningen, Nederland; Instituut Ecologische Wetenschappen Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Departement Soologie Universiteit Stellenbosch, NetherlandsM. Maboeta, School voor Milieuwetenschappen & Ontwikkeling Noordwes-Universiteit, Privaat sak X6001 Potchefstroom 2520
P. Doelman, Doelman Advies, August Faliseweg 10, 6703 AS Wageningen, Nederland, Netherlands
Full Text:
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In the past decades, soils in South Africa as well as The Netherlands have become increasingly deteriorated as a result of chemical and physical factors. Soil contamination, acidification, desiccation and erosion have caused negative impacts on land surfaces which are still on the increase. Soil functions like primary plant production, natural soil water clean up, basis and substrate for the above ground biodiversity and food chains, have become completely or partially impaired. The awareness, that soil is a vital and living system has to become the basis of soil policy and soil management. This paper is a plea for such an approach. It describes the various threats, what a vital soil is and which factors play a key role in this vital system: soil structure, buffer capacity, organic matter content, and the variety of soil organisms. It also indicates how the vitality of the soil should be monitored.
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Crossref Citations
1. The need for attuned soil quality risk assessment for non-Western humans and ecosystems, exemplified by mining areas in South Africa
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