1. The Soils Around Us

2. Soils and Ecosystems in Crisis “The coming 50 years are likely to be the final period of rapidly expanding, global human environmental impacts. Future agricultural practices will shape, perhaps irreversibly, the surface of the Earth, including its species, biogeochemistry and utility to society” Agricultural use of soil systems faces challenges: –Need for increased production per hectare –Need to reduce environmental footprint Fertilizer use and loss energy –Resist land loss by erosion, urbanization, etc.

3. World Food Production Maintained pace due to inputs of energy and mass

4. World Food Production Pace and efficiency are declining with time

5. World Food Production Pace and efficiency are declining with time The fundamental resource (soils) are declining with time

6. Functions of soils in ecosystems

7. Biologically Essential Elements

8. Soils as an Environmental Interface

9. The Soil System 3d component of Earth surface Dimensions a human construct System allows us to quantify inputs, outputs, and changes Soil system is a component of eocsystems

10. The Soil System Dynamic with time Properties depend on state factors

11. The Soil System Result of combination of factors is unique soil Horizons and other properties depend on state factors

12. BIOTA CLIMATE PARENT MATERIAL TOPOGRAPHY TIME

13. Soil Horizons/Profile

14. Importance of Knowledge of Whole Soil

15. Soil Composition solids gases water life

16. Soil pH

17. Soil Particle Sizes

18. Nutrient Sources in Soils