Soil Carbon Impacts on Functionality and Environmental Sustainability

Abstract

The term soil functionality implies utilization of soil for specific purposes so that ecosystem functions and services are sustained. Soil functionality strongly impacts environmental sustainability in relation to climate change, water quality and renewability, biodiversity, elemental cycling and transformations. There is a wide range of soil parameters which impact soil functionality. These include physical (texture, structure, pore size distribution, continuity), chemical (pH, Eh, charge density, nutrient reserves, elemental toxicology), biological (microbial biomass carbon, soil respiration, biodiversity) and ecological (soil organic carbon concentration and quality, elemental transformation). The choice of specific indicator depends on specific functions. These parameters can be combined into a soil functionality index. Soil functionality can be measured indirectly be assessing soil quality. Soil functionality also depends on the parent material, land use and management, climate and CO2 enrichment. Soil functionality can be restored by creating a positive soil/ecosystem carbon budget, carbon sequestration in soil and terrestrial biosphere, enhancement of biodiversity and control of soil erosion. The concept of soil functionality can be used to address global issues such as climate change, food and nutritional security water quality and renewability and biodiversity.