. Agri-news. Agriculture. February 24,2003 Dirt - what's not to like? Six to eight inches of topsoil is all that stands between much of the world and ; National Geographic Magazine - September 2002 Sometimes it is easy to forget just how much our society relies on the health and quality of our soils. "A recent article in the National Geographic magazine really sums up the importance of preserving our ; says Shelley Woods, soil and water research scientist, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Brooks. "Each year a tremendous amount of agricultu
. Agri-news. Agriculture. February 24,2003 Dirt - what's not to like? Six to eight inches of topsoil is all that stands between much of the world and ; National Geographic Magazine - September 2002 Sometimes it is easy to forget just how much our society relies on the health and quality of our soils. "A recent article in the National Geographic magazine really sums up the importance of preserving our ; says Shelley Woods, soil and water research scientist, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Brooks. "Each year a tremendous amount of agricultural land is lost to various forms of soil degradation. This article says that despite the modernization and improvements in agricultural practices, degraded soils have lowered global yields by 13 per cent since World War 11. And if we lose topsoil, we lose food; it's as simple as ; According to the article, the main causes of this soil degradation are: • agriculture practices, which is responsible for 28 per cent of the total land loss • overgrazing - 35 per cent • deforestation - 30 per cent • fuelwood gathering - seven per cent Woods says she found these figures shocking and sees them as another incentive to spread the word about the value of topsoil. "Like most soil scientists, 1 am often teased by people about the dullness of studying dirt," she says. "I take it in fun, but also take every opportunity to inform people of the importance, complexity and beauty of ; Despite the importance of soils in supporting plant and animal life, and consequently human life, soil science is a relatively new area of study, says Woods. Soil science involves the study of soil formation and classification, as well as an integrative study of the physical, chemical, mineralogical and biological properties of soils. Although soil science is most strongly linked to agriculture, it is also an important component to environmental science, hydrology; reclama
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