Soil structure and its stability determine soil physical and chemical functions such as water retention, water and air transport, macropore flow, mechanical impedance, matter transport, nutrient leaching, redox potentials, and soil erosion protection. These soil physical and chemical characteristics are fundamental for biological processes, such as root penetration, organic matter turnover and nutrient dynamics. The soil pore network determines soil aeration, a large part of the soil hydrological regime and forms the habitat for soil biota, which in turn actively reshape the soil pore network. Soil biota, root growth, land management practices and abiotic drivers lead to a constant evolution of the arrangement of pores, minerals and organic matter. Thus, soil properties and functions are always changing, especially in managed agricultural and forestry lands.
In such lands, anthropogenic soil compaction is one of the main soil degradation processes which can lead to a long-term loss of soil structure. Steadily increasing weight of machinery and their intensive use increase the risk of harmful soil compaction, especially under unfavourable soil conditions. The effects of soil compaction on soil structure and processes, especially in deeper layers are often almost invisible, while recovery of soil structure of those layers is a grand challenge.
The importance of the interaction between soil structure on one side and soil compaction, soil management and soil biology on the other, is highlighted by recent research outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms and factors controlling soil functions is a prerequisite for climate smart farming systems. This is crucial for achieving yield and food security on a sustainable way, as well as preserving the systems’ resilience to extreme weather events due to climate change.
In this session, we invite contributions on the formation and alteration of soil structure and its associated soil functions at all spatial and temporal scales. Special focus lies on feedbacks between soil structure dynamics and soil biology as well as the impact of mechanical stress exerted by heavy vehicles deployed under land management operations. Further, we encourage submissions that integrate complementary measurement techniques, aim at bridging different scales or study solutions for reducing soil compaction and improving soil structure.