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The Production Potential of Soils: Part II— Sensitivity of the Soil Systems in Southern Europe to Degrading Influxes

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Book cover Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community

Summary

The influxes that threaten the productivity of the soil systems in Southern Europe are discussed and the respective sensitivities of the main soil taxonomic units are qualitatively evaluated. The sensitivities are referred to causes contributing to the degradation of the qualities of the soil peda. Such causes examined were: loss of soil volume and organic matter, physical degradation, chemical degradation and fertility deterioration. Due to the predominantly sloping terrain and the adverse climatic conditions in Southern Europe soil erosion is the dominant deterioration process. It is related to all the causes of productivity degradation, and strongly affects the cultivated soils on the river terraces and on tertiary hills. Erosion also damages the soils on the mountain watersheds that have lost their vegetative cover. The sensitivity of the soil systems to erosion depends on the factors of the USLE and on the depth and morphological configuration of the respective soil peda. Soil taxonomic units having shallow peda and limiting horizons are the most sensitive. Soils of the flood plains are mainly sensitive to physical and chemical degradation and less to fertility deterioration. Their sensitivities depend on the textural and mineralogical compositions, on the acidity of the peda and on the organic matter content of the surface horizon.

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  1. Athens Faculty of Agriculture, Botanicos, 11855, Athens, Greece

    Nicholas J. Yassoglou

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  1. Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium

    H. Barth  & P. L’Hermite  & 

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Yassoglou, N.J. (1987). The Production Potential of Soils: Part II— Sensitivity of the Soil Systems in Southern Europe to Degrading Influxes. In: Barth, H., L’Hermite, P. (eds) Scientific Basis for Soil Protection in the European Community. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3451-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3451-1_6

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