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Climate Change on Soil Structure and Soil Health: Impacts and Adaptation

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Book cover Soil Health and Climate Change

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 29))

Abstract

Soil structure determines soil physical health and therefore plays a fundamental role in controlling productivity as well as in providing on-site and off-site ecosystem services. This chapter explores the potential changes to the three aspects of soil structure, namely form, stability and resilience and their associated soil functions under predicted scenarios of future climate change. The investigation reveals threats of structural degradation of both direct and indirect nature, which are particularly severe for hard setting soils in the subtropical and temperate regions. The resulting soil structural degradation can lead to reduced rainfall infiltration, increased soil erosion and reduced water use efficiency with implications on productivity and the environment. Some of the adverse changes in soil structure are already evident with resulting adverse changes in vegetation and hydrology. On the other hand, this review also highlights the potential of soil structure (via management) in better adapting agro-ecosystems to future climate changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NSW Department of Primary Industries, 4, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia

    Kwong Yin Chan

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  1. Kwong Yin Chan
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Correspondence to Kwong Yin Chan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Science Centre, Oratava Avenue 121-131, West Pennant Hills, 2125, New South Wales, Australia

    Bhupinder Pal Singh

  2. Forest Resources Research, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beecroft, New South Wales, Australia

    Annette L. Cowie

  3. Hawkesbury District Office, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia

    K. Yin Chan

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Chan, K.Y. (2011). Climate Change on Soil Structure and Soil Health: Impacts and Adaptation. In: Singh, B., Cowie, A., Chan, K. (eds) Soil Health and Climate Change. Soil Biology, vol 29. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20256-8_3

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