Deep soils

Although soils are a key component of the critical zone that sustains life on earth, they remain one of the least understood components of terrestrial ecosystems. Though recognized by many scientists as the most biocomplex component of the ecosystem, a greater understanding of the soil is key to understanding ecosystem function for developing sustainable management practices. For example, any effort to mitigate the impacts of global change must address management impacts on the soil because the largest carbon pool in the biosphere is found in the soil, and any substantial changes in those larger pools will have a higher relative impact on global C than changes in aboveground biomass. Soil is also the primary source of water and essential elements for plant growth, and the availability of water and nutrients often limits ecosystem productivity, and thus can affect plant response to global change. Soils are also dynamic systems where the processes affecting water, carbon, and nutrient dynamics are influenced by geochemical and biological reactions. The biodiversity in soils is often greater than that in the aboveground ecosystem, and often these soil organisms also have major impacts on the growth and health of plants. © 2011 by the Society of American Foresters.

Duke Scholars

Author Daniel D. Richter Earth and Climate Sciences