Biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity as key drivers of ecosystem services provided by soils

Smith, P., Cotrufo, M. F., Rumpel, C., Paustian, K., Kuikman, P. J., Elliott, J. A., McDowell, R., Griffiths, R. I., Asakawa, S., Bustamante, M., House, J. I., Sobocká, J., Harper, R., Pan, G., West, P. C., Gerber, J. S., Clark, J. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0412-8824, Adhya, T., Scholes, R. J. and Scholes, M. C. (2015) Biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity as key drivers of ecosystem services provided by soils. SOIL Discussions, 2 (1). pp. 537-586. ISSN 2199-3998 doi: 10.5194/soild-2-537-2015

Abstract/Summary

Soils play a pivotal role in major global biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nutrient and water), while hosting the largest diversity of organisms on land. Because of this, soils deliver fundamental ecosystem services, and management to change a soil process in support of one ecosystem service can either provide co-benefits to other services or can result in trade-offs. In this critical review, we report the state-of-the-art understanding concerning the biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity in soil, and relate these to the provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services which they underpin. We then outline key knowledge gaps and research challenges, before providing recommendations for management activities to support the continued delivery of ecosystem services from soils. We conclude that although there are knowledge gaps that require further research, enough is known to start improving soils globally. The main challenge is in finding ways to share knowledge with soil managers and policy-makers, so that best-practice management can be implemented. A key element of this knowledge sharing must be in raising awareness of the multiple ecosystem services underpinned by soils, and the natural capital they provide. The International Year of Soils in 2015 presents the perfect opportunity to begin a step-change in how we harness scientific knowledge to bring about more sustainable use of soils for a secure global society.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/42162
Identification Number/DOI	10.5194/soild-2-537-2015
Refereed	No
Divisions	Interdisciplinary Research Centres (IDRCs) > Walker Institute Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Ecosystems Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Earth Systems Science Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Geography and Environmental Science Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Centre for Food Security Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre
Publisher	European Geophysical Union
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