What is soil? A dynamically and continuously changing, mixture of inorganic, living and dead organic materials, that sustains physical, chemical and biological functions while providing resources to the living nature.

Genesis of soils 1.) physical weathering of rock temperature water 2.) chemical weathering  nutrients 3.) biological processes  biological weathering

Functions of soil biomass modulation biotope medium source archeology

Soil characteristics - physical composition solid gas pore liquid - pore content clayey sand 35% garden soil 60% peat 80% - permeability - organic material

3 phase 2 phase gas soil particles soil particles liquid/gas pore liquid

- water types pore water capillary water clay 1-2m sand 20-30cm sorbed water - temperature – neutral zone - albedo plow – 0.17 plain surface – 0.3 snow – 0.7 - mineral content

Soil degradation 1.) erosion (water/wind) natural causes: heavy rain, steep slopes, impermeable soil strong wind, dry soil, lack of vegetation anthropogenic: land abuse, deforestation remedy: terracing, vegetation, alteration of soil structure, shelter belts

2.) acidification natural causes: lack of calcium breakdown of vegetation (CO2) anthropogenic: fertilizers (H+), acid rain remedy: no unnecessary fertilizer, lime addition

3.) salinization natural causes: bad drainage anthropogenic: irrigation, raising groundwater level remedy: salt content control in irrigation water, groundwater level control, chemical methods (ion change)

4.) mechanical degradation (compaction) natural causes: bad structure, lack of organisms in the soil anthropogenic: agricultural vehicles, bad water management remedy: agro-techniques

5.) bad water household natural causes: climate (regional or microclimate) soil structure remedy: irrigation, channel inland inundation, catchment area control

Pollution source reduction background gas/dust emission seepage in groundwater deposition (air/water) food chain agriculture immobilization industry/mining physical/chemical/biological breakdown traffic landfills

Actions to take 1. previous land use 2. test holes 3. determination of pollutants 4. extent of pollution 5. prevent further spread 6. enclose or deck, if necessary 7. elimination

consider: bedding (layering) groundwater change in gw level direction of gw flow questions: where (density) depth disturbed/undisturbed sample

pollutant type of danger landuse heavy metals, organic pollutants ingestion garden, recreation area, playground cadmium, lead bioaccumulation garden sulfates, copper, nickel, zinc, methane plant poison agricultural land sulfates, chlorides, phenol, oil corrosion inbuilt areas methane, sulphur, inflammable material danger of fire and explosion PAC, asbestos, radioactive material contact phenol, cyanide, sulphate water pollution groundwater, surface water

Extent borehole

Isolation 1. Isolating wall 2. Depression well wall 3. Water intrusion well

soil exchange, deposition pore gas suction Elimination EX SITU IN SITU soil exchange, deposition pore gas suction soil washing (chemicals) soil washing (chemicals) chemical extraction immobilization immobilization pneumatic decompaction dehalogenization thermal treatment oxidation - reduction vitrification biodegradation gas suction bioventillation