Soil cover constraints and degradation in Nordic rural areas

Abstract

Long-time experience of society, research about soils and know-how on causality of deterioration of soil quality are needed in the sustainable management of soil resources and their protection against degradation. In the present work, the main constraints of Estonian soils (in total 13 items are reported and their occurrence is assessed) and degradation features of soils (classified into four groups by their properties) are presented. Activities needed for conservation of two levels of soil (state and farm level) were taken into account in summarizing the present work. The tasks for research and extension services as well as public awareness needed for prevention of soil degradation are also considered. The analysis of local soil conservation on the background of European scale shows that the main differences between South and North soil protection depend on the properties of Nordic soils (thinner soil cover, shorter biologically active period, water logging, soil-leaching, absence of drying throughout) and the changed priorities of soil degradation items.

Keywords:

• Estonia, Nordic rural area
• soil conservation
• soil constraints
• soil degradation

Acknowledgements

Funding for the research was provided by the Estonian Scientific Foundation (grant No. 4991) and the Ministry of Education (project No. 0172613s03).