Physical aspects of soils of disturbed ground (Chapter 21)

Sojka, R.E. (1999) Physical aspects of soils of disturbed ground (Chapter 21). In: Ecosystems of Disturbed Ground. Ecosystems of the World, No. 16. pp. 503-519.

PDF 999.pdf Download (1MB)

Abstract

Humanity's presence on earth has forced the selective
adoption of both anthropocentric and naturalistic perspectives
of soil as an ecosystem component. From
the anthropocentric perspective, soil is an ecosystem
component used by humans for specific purposes
(e.g., to grow forests and crops; support structures or
roadways; and as a filtration medium). The naturalistic
perspective sees soil primarily as the natural foundation
or backdrop for other ecological systems and processes,
and philosophically excludes many soil-management
technologies and scenarios, favoring only soil uses
and management practices that derive from natural
ecosystem processes. The naturalistic perspective is
more willing to concede that soil, like other ecosystem
elements, may at times respond to perturbations counter
to human needs and aesthetics.
The role of environmental managers and scientists is
to know when and how firmly to embrace the validity
of either or both outlooks. That requires an appreciation
of the properties of ecosystem components,
and how those properties affect a given management
objective. Familiarity with fundamental soil properties
is essential to understanding the physical aspects of
soils of disturbed ground, regardless of the interpreter's
perspective

Item Type:	Book Section
NWISRL Publication Number:	0999
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:55
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2016 17:48
Item ID:	809
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/809