Abstract
Soil is the most fundamental and basic resource. Although erroneously dubbed as “dirt” or perceived as something of insignificant value, humans can not survive without soil because it is the basis of all terrestrial life. Soil is a vital resource that provides food, feed, fuel, and fiber. It underpins food security and environmental quality, both essential to human existence. Essentiality of soil to human well-being is often not realized until the production of food drops or is jeopardized when the soil is severely eroded or degraded to the level that it loses its inherent resilience (Fig. 1.1).
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Blanco-Canqui, H., Lal, R. (2010). Soil and Water Conservation. In: Principles of Soil Conservation and Management. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8709-7_1
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