Edaphology: What is, characteristics and importance

Edaphology is a branch of science that focuses on the Soil studyhow they form, in their composition, its properties and its relationship with vegetation and other aspects of the environment. This discipline seeks to understand how soils develop over time, how they are affected by natural and human factors and how they can be managed sustainably.

Edaphologists, scientists who specialize in Edaphology, investigate a wide range of soil -related aspects. This includes the Chemical composition of soils, your texture, structure and retention capacity of water, as well as its ability to support plant life. They also study how soils influence water quality and biodiversity conservation, since the soils play a crucial role in water filtration and purification and provide the substrate for most land plants.

In this other post you can learn about soil horizons: structure and factors.

The characteristics of each soil are influenced by their Materials of origin, external factors and biological processes. However, certain crucial factors determine its viability.

The chemical and physical composition of the soil is influenced by a variety of factors that ultimately determine the availability of nutrients and the types of chemical reactions that occur. In addition, the morphology of soil particles and their relative size play an important role in determining textural values. Several soil properties, such as density, pH, electrical conductivity and infiltration capacityThey depend on these characteristics.

Soil evolution is a continuous process that is largely influenced by current conditions and processes. Biological activity plays an important role in the impact of the key soil properties, including Porosity and presence of organic matter. In addition, soil bioturbation is an extremely valuable tool in geological studies, particularly in terms of stratigraphy, since it allows the identification, description and reconstruction of training environments.

The soil, as a whole, can be classified according to its texture, resulting in the formation of multiple Types of soil According to the following categorization:

• Sandy soils They are mainly formed by siliceous particles that vary in size from more than 0.0625 mm to less than 2 mm. These soils have a tendency to easily disintegrate and their water absorption capacity is relatively low. Due to their high permeability, sandy soils can pass water through them quite easily. However, its concentration of nutrients tends to be low.
• The silly soils They are composed of a fine material known as silt, which has grain sizes ranging from 0.0625 to 0.002 mm. When they are wet, they have a soft texture and when they are dry, they seem talc. These soils exhibit low plasticity and high adhesivity, with intermediate levels of aeration, permeability, moisture retention and nutrient availability.
• Clay soils They are mainly composed of aluminum silicates of less than 0.002 mm. Due to their ability to retain large amounts of water, they become very dense and rigid when they dry. These soils are heavy and little permeable, but they contain a large amount of nutrients.
• Frankish soils They are composed of a relatively uniform mixture of sand, silt and clay. It is rare to find soils that are completely pure nature and, in most cases, they are composed of a mixture of textures.

Here you can learn more about the different types of soils and their main characteristics.

Throughout the history of humanity, the connection between The classification of soil and agriculture It has been of great importance, which has led to a continuous interest in using various criteria to categorize the soil.

During generations, people have been captivated by soil complexities. Already in the Roman era they were used techniques such as fertilization and cultivation to improve soil quality. However, the factors that influenced the performance of crops were often influenced by religious beliefs, which limited their understanding to a practical level. The study of soils from a scientific and academic perspective does not arise until the nineteenth century, when edaphological variables begin to be taken into account.

During the time of Berzelius (1779-1848), proposed the notion that the soil is a natural chemical laboratory in which chemical reactions of both decomposition and synthesis occur, which was later supported by Liebig (1803-1873). However, the German Sprengel (1787-1859) considered the soil as a mass of mineral materials and decomposition products of both animals and plants. He was the first to suggest that soil characteristics can change according to the weather. On the other hand, Fallou (1794-1877) had a different perspective and saw the soil as a geological formation in itself, a point of view that their contemporaries also shared.

Soil science arose as a different field of study thanks to Dokuchaev pioneer work (1846-1903). He identified several types of native soils of different Russian landscapes. In doing so, he conceptualized the soil as a body with multiple layers, each with unique specific properties of its natural environment. This helped him establish a direct correlation between soils and natural systems such as geosphere and biosphere. Edafogenesis of the Russian school, which was spread by scholars such as Marbut (1863-1935) and Ranman (1851-1926), extended throughout Europe. Finally, he led to the first international meeting at 1909 organized by the International Agrogeological Commission. The study of the soil gained considerable attention and evolved over time, which led to an increasing frequency of international meetings. The International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) The maximum representative of these conferences is currently.

Edaphology is Fundamental to agriculturesince it provides Essential information on soil quality and fertility. Edaphologists help farmers make informed decisions about crop selection, fertilization and irrigation, which contributes directly to Food production and global food security.

Soils are finite natural resources, so Edaphology plays a critical role in the Sustainable management of these resources, helping to prevent soil erosion, degradation and loss of fertile lands.

Soils house a great diversity of microorganisms, insects and small animals that are fundamental to the health of terrestrial ecosystems. Grasp The relationship between soils and biodiversity It is crucial for the conservation of wildlife and the restoration of degraded ecosystems.

Edaphology also has Importance in water quality It refers. The soils play a vital role in the purification and filtration of water. Edaphology helps identify how soils affect water quality and how they can be used effectively to prevent contamination and scarcity of drinking water.

As you have learned more about Edaphology, we now encourage you to read about soil conservation: importance, techniques and practices and World Soil Day.

If you want to read more articles similar to Edaphology: What is, characteristics and importancewe recommend that you enter our category of other environment.