The Measurement of Soil Security in Terms of Human Health: Examples and Ideas

Abstract

Soil security refers to maintenance and improvement of soil resources and is closely related to food, water, and energy security. Human health is also a major concern, and food quality and consumption thus become important issues. Accordingly, the main purpose of this research was to measure the capacity of soil to meet nutrient requirements for human health in Korea. The bases for assessment of nutrient requirement are national dietary reference intake (DRI) values, total amounts of crops and food consumed, total annual crop production, and nationwide soil fertility values. The national nutritional requirements for the total population were calculated from the DRI, and the mass of nutrients that soil can supply to plants or humans was calculated based on national average concentrations of nutrients and cultivation areas. Total production and consumption of crops and food were estimated from a national database. Results showed that the nitrogen in Korean soil can meet 32–48 % of the Korean protein demand, and soil potassium can supply about 28–69 % of Korean dietary recommendations for nutrient intake. In contrast, all of the calcium and magnesium needed by Koreans was provided by soil. The primary conclusion of this research was that soil plays an important role in providing nutrients for human health and that soil security needs to extend to soil welfare.