Earth Science and Climate Change

Land and Soil Sciences

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Soil physics defines and measures the physical properties, behavior and processes of soil. Soil physics deals with properties such as structure, density, texture, and aggregate stability along with water-content and water retention character of soils. Physical processes involve transport of heat, solutes, gases and water are characterized. Soil genesis or pedogenesis may involve translocation, organic changes, podzolisation/cheluviation, gleying or desilication/laterisaton depending on prevailing physical conditions. Parent rock, climate, biotic activity, and topography are major factors in soil genesis. Soil mineralogy is the study of the soil mineral phase, which accounts for up to 90% of the volume of soils. Unfortunately, this fantastically complex environment has been degraded by different ill practices and has taken shape of serious global environmental problem. Technologies in soil remediation or soil washing are being developed to remove anthropogenic contaminants from soils in an effort to benefit commercial agriculture and wild flora and fauna. Soil is the basis for agriculture and farming. And with the global population estimated to reach around ten billion by 2050, new agricultural practices will be needed. In addition, climate change has quite specifically, adversely affected the agricultural nations with unusual monsoon patterns and droughts. To maintain and increase food production in such poor conditions, efforts will be needed to prevent soil degradation that may result from increased pressure on the resource. Sustainable agriculture and soil management measures will have to be practiced to produce food in a manner which causes minimal deterioration of soil quality.