Soil health and ecosystem services

CARLOS GARBISUcgarbisu@neiker.net

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SOIL PROTECTION

DEFINITIONS OF SOIL QUALITY – SOIL HEALTH

BOTH TERMS HAVE ATTRACTED PUBLIC INTEREST IN SOIL C ONSERVATION

Different definitions may coexist for different purposes

Its fitness for use (Larson and Pierce, 1991)

The ability of soil to support crop growth without becoming degraded or otherwise harming theenvironment (Acton et al. 1995)

The continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-useboundaries, to sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments,and maintain plant, animal and human health (Doran et al. 1977)

The capacity of a soil to function (Karlen et al. 1997)

The capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries,to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and supporthuman health and habitation" (SSSA, Karlen et al. 1997)

How well is the soil functioning for a specific goal or use (Karlen et al. 2003)

How well soil does what we want it to do (NRCS-USDA)

Soil quality is the capacity of a soil to perform its ecosystem processes and services, whilemaintaining ecosystem attributes of ecological relevance(Garbisu et al. 2011)

� FOOD, FIBRE AND FUEL

� SUPPORTS PLANT GROWTH

� HABITAT FOR ANIMALS AND MICROORGANISMS

� ORGANIC MATTER DECOMPOSITION

� NUTRIENT CYCLING

� DETOXIFICATION OF CONTAMINANTS

� REGULATES WATER AND AIR QUALITY

� DISTRIBUTES RAINWATER

� GENETIC RESERVOIR

� STORAGE OF CARBON

� ANCHOR AND PLATFORM FOR CONSTRUCTION

� PRESERVES ARCHAEOLOGICAL INFORMATION

THE CAPACITY OF SOIL TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTIONS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Teleological

Anthropocentric

ANTHROPOCENTRIC APPROACH

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

� Ecological processes, functions,ecosystem services, ecologicalintegrity, ecological attributes,foodweb, risk for ecosystems, etc.

SOIL QUALITY

� Agricultural quality: crop yield

� Chemicalquality: contaminants, risk for humans

SOIL HEALTH

ANTHROPOCENTRIC AND ECOCENTRIC APPROACH

NON-LIVING COMPONENT

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

SOIL QUALITY

SOIL HEALTHLIVING COMPONENT

PHYSICOCHEMICALINDICATORS

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

SOIL QUALITY SOIL HEALTHBIOLOGICAL INDICATORS

Porosity

Bulk density

Texture

Structure

Infiltration

Water holding capacity

pH

Organic matter

Cation exchange capacity

Macronutrients (N, P, K)

Electrical conductivity

Micronutrients

Metals

Sensitivity

Quick response

Integrative character

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

SOIL THREATS

� Sealing

� Salinization

� Floods

� Loss of OM

� Loss of Biodiversity

� Contamination

� Erosion

� Compaction

� Lack of public interest

� Lack of funds

� Loss of Nutrients

� Landslides

Floods

Loss of biodiversity

Loss of OM

Contamination

Erosion

Sealing

Compaction

Salinization

Loss of nutrients

Landslides

SOIL THREATS

GLOBAL CHANGE – GLOBAL THREATS(climate change; contamination; land use: agricultural intensification, urbanization; N

deposition; invasive species)

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

There is little if any parallel between AIR or WATER QUALITYand SOIL HEALTH : air and water quality standards are usuallybased on maximum allowable concentrations of materialshazardous to human health

The definition of soil health must be broad enough to encompassthe MANY FUNCTIONS of soil

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

EVALUATION OF SOIL QUALITY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED RELATIVE TO THE DIFFERENT USES

And the evaluation of soil health?

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

- Lack of understanding regarding the openness and interconnectedness of ecosystemson scales that transcend management boundaries

- As many functions-services as possible

FROM SOIL QUALITY TO SOIL HEALTH

If the mind is cultivated, it can be fertile ground for new ideas

APPLICATION OF THE SOIL HEALTH “METAPHOR” TOTHE REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOILS

USEFUL TERM TO BRIDGE THE GAPBETWEEN SCIENTISTS, POLICY-MAKERS,RESOURCE MANAGERS, AND THE PUBLIC

GREAT COMMUNICATION

TOOL

Soil health: use in communicationSoil quality: use in legislation (but with concepts of soil health)

ECOSYSTEM RISK ASSESSMENTCHEMICAL, TOXICOLOGICAL >> ECOLOGICAL

COOPERATION IS BETTER THAN CONFRONTATION

CONTAMINATION IS SIMPLY THE PRESENCE OF A SUBSTANCE WHERE ITSHOULD NOT BE OR AT CONCENTRATIONS ABOVE BACKGROUND LEVELS

CHEMICAL APPROACH

BIOAVAILABILITY : contaminant fraction freely available tocross an organism’s (cellular) membrane fromthe medium theorganism inhabits at a given point in time

BIOACCESSIBILITY : what is actually bioavailable now pluswhat is “potentially bioavailable”

POLLUTION IS CONTAMINATION THAT RESULTS IN, OR CAN RESULT IN ,ADVERSE BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS TO RESIDENT COMMUNITIES

CI ≤ 1: low; 1 < CI ≤ 2: moderate; CI > 2: high

LMA limit: local maximum allowable limit value

TOXICOLOGICAL APPROACH

� MODEL ORGANISMS AND BIOASSAYS: ecological relevance (residentorganisms)?

� TOLERANCE: acclimation, adaptation. When resident populations aretolerant to existing contamination, bioassays with non-tolerant organisms arenot environmentally relevant

� RISK BASED ON POTENTIALLY AFFECTED FRACTION OF SPECIES(PAF<10%: minimum risk; 10%<PAF<50%: uncertainty; PAF>50%:unacceptable):keystonespecies,dominant species,redundant species- someprocesses are phylogenetically narrow (nitrification, N fixation) while others arephylogenetically broad (N mineralization) -

Eisenia fetida Lactuca sativaVibrio fischeri

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN ECOSYSTEM RISK ASSESSMENT

ECOSYSTEM SERVICE ECOLOGICALREQUIREMENTS

(examples)

INDICATOR(examples)

SOIL FERTILITY Nutrient cycling Nitrification, P, K, resp, N loss to sub-root soil, litter mass loss rate

Functional biodiversity Nitrifying bact, Biolog, nematodecomposition, earthworm structure

OM build-up and maintenance Labile SOM, aggregate size,polyphenols, fulvic/humic acids

Physicochemical properties pH, bulk density, CEC, WHC, texture

ADAPTABILITY AND RESILIENCE

Functional diversity Fungi:bact ratio, nitrifying bacteria

Genetic variation Nitrifying bact, nucleic acids…

Species richness Keystone species, diversity indexes...

BUFFER AND REACTIONFUNCTION

OM build-up and maintenance Labile SOM, root turnover…

Physicochemical properties CEC, aggregate stability…

Soil structure and bioturbation Earthworm density

BIODIVERSITY AND HABITATPROVISION

Functional biodiversity, structuralbiodiversity, genetic biodiversity

Keystone species, soil food webbiomass distribution, iso-enzymes…

DISEASE SUPPRESSION AND PEST RESISTANCE

Functional biodiversity Soilborne predators of pests, specificsuppressive taxa

PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OM build-up, soil structure Anecic-epigeic earthworms, aggregatestability, soil compaction

ECOSYSTEM SERVICESTHE BENEFITS PEOPLE OBTAIN FROM ECOSYSTEMS

SUPPORTING SERVICES: e.g., biomass production, production of atmosphericO2, soil formation and retention, nutrient cycling, water cycling, provisioning ofhabitat. The ecological processes underlying the functioning of ecosystems. Theinclusion of these supporting services in any valuation process may lead todouble counting, as their value is reflected in the three other types ofservices

WHAT HAS A PRICE CAN BE BOUGHT

TODO NECIO CONFUNDE VALOR Y PRECIO

MONETARY VALUE OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

REDUCTIONIST APPROACH

ECOSYSTEMS, AND THE BENEFITSTHEIR GOOD MANAGEMENT BRINGS,NEED TO BE REPRESENTED INDECISION-MAKING TOOLS AND ININDICATORS OF PROGRESS (such asGross Domestic Product)

Focusing on final ecosystemservices delivery raises the concern that thecomponents of ecosystems such as biodiversity might be overlooked if their linkto final ecosystemservices cannot be clearly demonstrated

Final goods and services tell littleabout the state of the ecosystemservice delivery mechanisms (theecosystemsupply chain relies onecological infrastructure)

THE SUCCESSOF ECOSYSTEM SERVICESMEANS THEY CANNOT BE IGNORED BYANY SCIENTIST WORKING ON ANY PARTOF THE ENVIRONMENT

GOOGLE (21 October 2012)“Ecosystemservices”: 2,380,000“Soil quality”: 1,460,000“Soil health”: 565,000

“Water quality”: 31,100,000“Air quality”: 38,200,000

Regulation of major biogeochemical cycles

Retention and delivery of nutrients to plants

Contribution to plant production for food, fuel, and fiber

Generation and renewal of soil structure and fertility

Bioremediation of wastes and pollutants

Provision of clean water (receive and store water)

Mitigation of floods and droughts, water erosion control

Translocation of nutrients, particles and gases

Regulation of atmospheric trace gases (CO2, NOx)

Modification of anthropogenically driven global change

Regulation of animal and plant populations

Control of potential pests and pathogens

Contribution to landscape heterogeneity and stability

Vital component of habitats important for recreation and natural history

Healthy soils provide us with a range of ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

SUPPORTING SERVICESPhysical stability and support for plantsRenewal, retention and delivery of nutrients for plantsHabitat and gene pool

REGULATING SERVICESRegulation of major elemental cyclesBuffering, filtering and moderation of the hydrological cycleDisposal of wastes and dead organic matter

PROVISIONING SERVICESBuilding material

CULTURAL SERVICESHeritage sites, archaeological preserver of artifactsSpiritual value, religious sites and burial grounds

SOIL ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

PROVISIONING GOODSTopsoilPeatTurfSand / clay mineralsBiomedical resourcesBio-resources, soil stabilizers, biological crust

REGULATING SERVICESClimate regulation

Buffering extremes of cold or heatGHG regulation

Hydrological regulationBuffering floods and droughtsWater filtration

Hazard regulationStructural support buffering, shrink/swellLandslides / slumpsLiquifactionDust emissions

Disease regulationHuman pathogensDisease transmission & vector control

BiodiversityGene poolpathogens

CULTURAL SERVICESSports field recreational surfacesPreservation of historic artifactsLandscape aestheticsBurial grounds

SUPPORTING SERVICESSoil formation and genesis

WASTE PROCESSING SERVICESCleaning, degradation, transformation

GOODS AND SERVICES DERIVED FROM THE PEDOSPHERE

SERVICE INDICATORSBad

1..2..3 Average4..5..6

Good7..8..9

Indicatorvalue(1-9)

Servicevalue(1-9)

PASTUREPRODUCTION

Dry weight (t/ha per year) - mountain- valley

<3<5.4

3-4,25.4-7.6

>4.2>7.6

BIODIVERSITYCONSERVATION

Plant (H’)- mountain- valley

<1.5<1.3

1.5-2.51.3-2.3

>2.5>2.3

Mesofauna – types (índex) <40 40-70 >70Functional fungi (H’) <3 3-4 >4Functional bacteria (H’) <3 3-4 >4Genetic fungi (No. species - bands) <5 5-11 >11Genetic bacteria (No. species - bands) <10 10-18 >18Total genetic (H’) <2 2-3 >3

SOILCONSERVATION

Microbial activity (mg C-CO 2/kg per hour) <0.6 0.6-1 >1Microbial abundance (mg C-CO2/kg per hour) <10 10-18 >18

Microbial metabolic quotient - qCO2 >0.1 0.1-0.06 <0.06

Compaction-penetrability 0-30 cm (MPa) > 3 2-3 <2

Acidity- aluminium saturation (%)Acidity- pH

>20<5 or >7.5

10-20 5-5.9

<10 6-7.5

N total (%) <0.10 or >3 0.11-0.29 0.3-3

Olsen P (ppm) <8 or >45 8-15 15.1-45

Extractable K+ (ppm) <80 or >300 80-120 121-350

COMBATINGCLIMATECHANGE

CO2 soil emissions (g CO2/m2 per hour) >3 1.5-3 <1.5Organic matter (%):

- mountain- valley

<5<2

5-102-4

>10>4

AGROECOSYSTEM HEALTH CARDS BASED ON ECOSYSTEM SERVI CES

SOIL HEALTH – MONITORING NETWORKS

GERMANY Respiration, SIR, metabolic quotient (qCO2), enzymesTHE NETHERLANDSBiomass (direct microscopy), C-mineralisation, N-mineralisation, bacterial growth rates, bacterial diversity (DGGE, Biolog)SWITZERLANDBiomass (SIR, CFE), respiration, N-mineralisation, arbuscular mycorrhizaCZECH REPUBLICSIR, respiration, N-mineralisation, nitrification, enzymes UNITED KINGDOM Biomass, respiration, diversity (Biolog), RhizobiumESTONIA, FINLAND, GERMANY, ITALY, LATVIA, RUSSIA, S WEDENRespiration, OM decomposition, enzyme, N-mineralisationAUSTRIABiomass (SIR and ergosterol), enzymes, nitrification, bacteriaand fungi, (Mycorrhiza)

A soil health monitoring programme must (i)cover the differentFUNCTIONS-SERVICESand LAND-USES and (ii) identifyPRIORITIESand relevantINDICATORS

MORE SOIL HEALTH OBSERVATORIES NEEDED!!

IS THE GLASS HALF FULL OR

HALF EMPTY?

Technically, the glass is always full (half air, half water)

IT IS HALF FULLAND

HALF EMPTY

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

ATTENTION!!

THANKS IHOBE!!

TRES

PROGRAMAS

EZAGUTU ERAGIN EKIN

PLAN DE SUELOS CONTAMINADOS DEL PAÍS VASCO 2007-2012

Generación y gestión del conocimiento , y transferencia a otros ámbitos: información, formación, sensibilización e investigación

UNA META(EZAGUTU)

TRESLÍNEAS

ACTUACIÓN

Recopilación, organizacióny gestión de la información en calidad del suelo

Generación deconocimiento

Sensibilización,información y formación

1. Crear equipos de trabajomultidisciplinares y permanentes2. Incidir en la política de ciencia y tecnología para generar conocimiento

1. Comunicar y difundir aspectos clave2. Aumentar el conocimiento entre los

agentes3.Articular mecanismos de participación

LA.2 Generación de conocimientoEstablecer el modelo de colaboracióny un plan de trabajo para los próximosaños con el grupo BERRILUR

ÁREAS DE CONOCIMIENTO

Grupos de Conocimiento Áreas de Conocimiento

Química Analitica-Grupo IBeA (Leioa) Química Ambiental

Geodinámica- Grupo Hidrogeología Aguas superficiales y subterráneas

Fisiología Vegetal y Ecologia-Grupo EKOFISCO Ecotoxicología en Plantas y Fitorremediación

Biología Celular y Animal -Grupo BCTA Ecotoxicología en Invertebrados

Química Analitica Farmacia (Gasteiz) Química de orgánicos y pesticidas

ESII-Dpto. Ingeniería Química y del Medio Ambiente Biofiltros y ensayos de envejecimiento acelerado de ENAC

TECNALIA R&I Gestión y Analisis de Riesgo

NEIKER-TECNALIA Ecología microbiana y bioindicación

GAIKER IK.4 Ecotoxicología bacteriana y Biorremediación

Areas de conocimiento de BERRILUR (Suelos)

ESCENARIOS BERRILUR

Aplicación Modelo Conceptual

BERRILUR II

BERRILUR I

Metodología

BERRILUR III

CONSOLIDANDO EL FUTURO

BERRILURImpacto

científico-tecnológico

Nº de Tesis publicadas 28Nº de Tesis de licenciatura 38Nº de artículos publicados en revistas clasificadas 189

Nº de artículos publicados en otras revistas 32

Nº de presentaciones en conferencias y congresos 202

Nº de patentes registradas 1

Nº de empleos generados en I+D 22

Investigadores formados en centros de prestigio 29

Nº Acuerdos Colaboración Centros Referentes 24

Donosti, 9, 10 y 11 Julio de 2008

22 de Noviembre de 2007 (Campus de Leioa)

18,19 y 20 de Octubre de 2005 (Campus de Vitoria-Gasteiz)3-4-5 de Noviembre de 2004

(Campus de Leioa)

23 de Junio de 2004Sede ACLIMA ( Bilbao)

CONSOLIDANDO EL FUTURO

Agradecimientos

Dpto. de Industria y Dpto. de Medio

Ambiente del Gobierno Vasco

Sociedad Pública IHOBE

Al conjunto de entidades, empresas y

particulares que han prestado su apoyo

para hacer de esta iniciativa una realidad