The interdisciplinary nature of <i>SOIL</i>

Abstract

Abstract. The holistic study of soils requires an interdisciplinary approach involving biologists, chemists, geologists, and physicists, amongst others, something that has been true from the earliest days of the field. In more recent years this list has grown to include anthropologists, economists, engineers, medical professionals, military professionals, sociologists, and even artists. This approach has been strengthened and reinforced as current research continues to use experts trained in both soil science and related fields and by the wide array of issues impacting the world that require an in-depth understanding of soils. Of fundamental importance amongst these issues are biodiversity, biofuels/energy security, climate change, ecosystem services, food security, human health, land degradation, and water security, each representing a critical challenge for research. In order to establish a benchmark for the type of research that we seek to publish in each issue of SOIL, we have outlined the interdisciplinary nature of soil science research we are looking for. This includes a focus on the myriad ways soil science can be used to expand investigation into a more holistic and therefore richer approach to soil research. In addition, a selection of invited review papers are published in this first issue of SOIL that address the study of soils and the ways in which soil investigations are essential to other related fields. We hope that both this editorial and the papers in the first issue will serve as examples of the kinds of topics we would like to see published in SOIL and will stimulate excitement among our readers and authors to participate in this new venture.

Effects of soil management techniques on soil water erosion in apricot orchards

“…These annual crops show high erosion rates due to intense tillage and a lack of vegetative cover (Cerdà et al, 2009a(Cerdà et al, , 2009bStevens et al, 2009;Rodríguez-Blanco et al, 2013;Ligonja and Shrestha, 2015). High erosion rates result in the loss of soil, and with that the loss of services soils provide for society (Brevik, 2009;Keesstra et al, 2012;Berendse et al, 2015;Brevik et al, 2015;van Leeuwen et al, 2015).…”

Assessment of environmental soil quality around Sonepur Bazari mine of Raniganj coalfield, India

“…Soil is an invaluable natural resource and its quality must be conserved and sustained. The environmental, social, economic, geologic, and human health issues are related to the quality of the soil (Brevik et al, 2015). Soil has all varieties of life-dwelling habitat, both below-and aboveground.…”

“…Soils are under increasing environmental pressure, and this affects the capacity of the soil to continue to perform its functions. However, the extent, severity, and consequences of soil degradation are poorly documented and there is an urgent need for quantitative determination of soil quality (Brevik et al, 2015).…”

Effects of permanent grass versus tillage on aggregation and organic matter dynamics in a poorly developed vineyard soil

“…Soils carry out a large number of functions such as primary production and biodiversity 1 conservation, as described by Berendse et al (2015), Brevik et al (2015), De Graaf et al (2015). 2 They also control the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, acting as a filter for groundwater 3 (Keesstra et al 2012), storing organic matter and nutrients (e.g.…”