Land Management & Natural Hazards Unit	SOIL
European Commission	Joint Research Centre	Institute for Environment and Sustainability		EU Soils Web Site
Soil Atlas of Europe

Introduction

Soil and agriculture Soil is the medium that enables us to grow our food, natural fibre and timber. Virtually all vegetation, including grasses, arable crops, shrubs and trees, need soil for the supply of water and nutrients and to fix their roots. It is not an understatement to say that soil is one of the key issues on which agriculture is based and, thus, fundamental to the existence of human society. Agricultural soil is a precious and limited resource, whose value has frequently been built up by man during decades or even centuries. Irreversible degradation of soil implies not only ruining the main asset of the current generation of farmers but also reducing the farming opportunities of future generations. Therefore, there must be a sustainable use and management of agricultural soil, with a view to safeguarding the fertility and agronomic value of agricultural land. The most productive agricultural soil is to be found along the major river valleys of Europe such as the Danube, Rhine, Seine and their estuaries. It is interesting to note that all societies have long recognised the productivity of these dark and base-rich soils. Their location with respect to available river and ground water ensure their high productivity. Productive agricultural soil can also be found on the glacial plains of northern Europe where ice age winds have deposited a layer of fine rock-dust to form fertile 'loess soil'. The well drained but often thin soil formed on the chalk and limestone plateaux of southern and eastern England and the Paris Basin form some of the most extensively exploited cereal growing areas of Europe and, until recently, produced more grain than Canada

On the floodplain of the River Po in northern Italy, one can find the largest area of rice production in Europe. Every spring the paddy fields are flooded with snowmelt from the nearby Alps to start the cultivation of the rice crop, much of it destined for the famous risotto dishes of Italy (EM). However, not all agriculture is confined to lowland plains or river valleys. One should not forget the famous wines and olive oils produced in some of the drier areas of Europe. Vineyards and olive plantations are usually situated on the well draining soils of the Mediterranean basin and central Europe. These soil types, usually light coloured, are often quite fertile and will respond very well to various types of soil management procedures (e.g. irrigation). Olive trees growing in southern France (AJ). In some parts of Europe the pressures on soil are so great that terrain, normally considered not to be suitable for farming has been adapted over time for agricultural use. The reclamation of coastal land and subsequent management through drainage and fertilizer allowed Dutch engineers to create the polders. In Ireland, farmers carried cartloads of seaweed to raise the organic content of fields to improve the quality of pasture while in many mountainous parts of Europe, steep slopes were terraced to create fertile ledges for crops and animals.

The picture below shows the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Productive agricultural land was so scarce in these coastal villages that extensive terraces were constructed and agricultural soil was developed by the local farmers on the steep slopes. The soil of the Cinque Terre has now been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (EM). Throughout many parts of Europe, especially in Scandinavia, forestry is the major form of land use. Extensive tracts of conifers, growing on acid Podzols, are managed, generally in a sustainable manner, to provide us with softwoods for furniture and paper. One should also bear in mind the other products of the forests, such as berries, mushrooms and the opportunities for game and recreation, generate significant revenue in several countries. In Finland, the annual revenue generated by the collection of forest berries is estimated at around 11 million Euros. This figure does not include private harvestings. Currently, there is considerable interest in forests and, especially, forest soil for storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as a mechanism to combat global warming due to greenhouse gases.

While agriculture and forestry soil are fundamental to our livelihood and are subject to threats originating from other sectors, there is widespread concern about the consequences of several agricultural practices on soil quality. The excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides can have a dramatic impact on soil biodiversity and possibly, on human health. The spreading of sewage sludge, the organic rich by-product of waste water treatment plants, as a fertilizer has been halted by many European countries and is the focus of intensive research due to concerns about heavy metals and other pollutants. Use of heavy agricultural machinery can cause the soil to compact and lose the capability to store water. Fluvisol, found on recent alluvial deposits, is often a highly fertile and agriculturally productive soil (EM). The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union already provides farmers with opportunities for soil protection. A number of agri-environmental measures offer opportunities for the build-up of soil organic matter, the enhancement of soil biodiversity, the reduction of erosion, diffuse contamination and soil compaction. These measures include support to organic farming, conservation tillage, the protection and maintenance of terraces, safer pesticide use, integrated crop management, management of low-intensity pasture systems, lowering stock density and the use of certified compost.

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