Soil Degradation in a North European Region

Summary

Degradation problems in Northern Europe are rather different from the desertification in dry climate regions. However, the problems can be rather serious, particularly because the same soils have been used for farming for several centuries. So degradation is mostly connected with soil structure and farming methods. Owing to the normally favourable climatic conditions the most is made of the farming opportunities, but on sandy soils partly on the expense of soil stability. Illustrated by Denmark as an example this paper looks at materials and processes in addition to measures being taken against degradation.