Soil quality

The [http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm European Commission's Joint Research Centre] proposed a definition, stating that

[http://eusoils.jrc.it/ESDB_Archive/eusoils_docs/other/EUR22721.pdf Soil quality] is an account of the soil’s ability to provide ecosystem and social services through its capacities to perform its functions under changing conditions. [http://eusoils.jrc.it/ESDB_Archive/eusoils_docs/other/EUR22721.pdf Tóth, G., Stolbovoy, V. and Montanarella, 2007. Soil Quality and Sustainability Evaluation - An integrated approach to support soil-related policies of the European Union] , EUR 22721 EN. 40 pp. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-05250-7.]

According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,

Soil quality is the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation.

Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling, and providing support for plants and other structures. Management of a soil has a major impact on soil quality.

See also

* Environmental soil science

References