Biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity as key drivers of ecosystem services provided by soils

• DOI: 10.5194/soild-2-537-2015
• Publication Date: 2015-06-01T13:01:16Z
• Authors: P. Smith; M. F. Cotrufo; C. Rumpel; K. Paustian; P. J. Kuikman; J. A. Elliott; R. McDowell; R. I. Griffiths; S. Asakawa; M. Bustamante; J. I. House; J. Sobocká; R. Harper; G. Pan; P. C. West; J. S. Gerber; J. M. Clark; T. Adhya; R. J. Scholes; M. C. Scholes
• Keywords: Provisioning; QH301 Biology; DIVERSITY; Carbon Dynamics in Peatland Ecosystems; 01 natural sciences; Agricultural and Biological Sciences; ANZSRC::4106 Soil sciences; Soil water; GE1-350; Business; Environmental resource management; SDG 15 - Life on Land; 2. Zero hunger; QE1-996.5; Ecology; Life Sciences; Geology; biogeochemical cycles; Biodiversity; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Soil Erosion and Agricultural Sustainability; Physical Sciences; Telecommunications; Ecosystem Functioning; Ecosystem Resilience; 610; 577; Soil Science; soil biodiversity; Global Biogeochemical Cycles; Soil functions; Biogeochemical cycle; Soil fertility; 333; Environmental science; QH301; cultural ecosystem services; Life Science; Ecosystem services; 14. Life underwater; soils; Biology; Ecosystem; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; 15. Life on land; Biogeochemical cycles; Soil biodiversity; Computer science; ANZSRC::3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience; Environmental sciences; 13. Climate action; FOS: Biological sciences; Environmental Science; Soils; 0401 agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; Soil Carbon Dynamics and Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems; ecosystem services

Abstract. Soils play a pivotal role in major global biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nutrient and water), while hosting the largest diversity of organisms on land. Because of this, soils deliver fundamental ecosystem services, and management to change a soil process in support of one ecosystem service can either provide co-benefits to other services or can result in trade-offs. In this critical review, we report the state-of-the-art understanding concerning the biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity in soil, and relate these to the provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural ecosystem services which they underpin. We then outline key knowledge gaps and research challenges, before providing recommendations for management activities to support the continued delivery of ecosystem services from soils. We conclude that although there are knowledge gaps that require further research, enough is known to start improving soils globally. The main challenge is in finding ways to share knowledge with soil managers and policy-makers, so that best-practice management can be implemented. A key element of this knowledge sharing must be in raising awareness of the multiple ecosystem services underpinned by soils, and the natural capital they provide. The International Year of Soils in 2015 presents the perfect opportunity to begin a step-change in how we harness scientific knowledge to bring about more sustainable use of soils for a secure global society.