IDENTIFYING CHANGES IN SOIL QUALITY: CONTAMINATION AND ORGANIC MATTER DECLINE

摘要

Soil is increasingly affected by applied agrochemicals, atmospheric pollutants, sewage sludge, and manures which can have adverse impacts on soil quality. The European Commission has embarked recently on a Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection that identifies eight threats to soil in Europe of which contamination and decline in organic matter are accorded high priority. To identify changes in soil quality it is important to have some baseline against which to measure that change.