The effect of global change on the soil body

International audienceWithout soil, no life on land is possible because soil provides the means for plant growth and plays a crucial role in water and carbon cycling among others. Human-induced global changes related to climate, land use and management are altering soils. The concepts of ecosystem services and soil capital value them, their functions and prevent their degradation. A major challenge for soil science is to quantify the relationships better between global changes, and soil processes and properties. The aim is to predict soil changes and understand whether soils will continue to deliver the services required in the long-term and to what extent soil management can mitigate climate change