This book provides information on key questions of soil science to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. We address the role of soils and key research topics from a landscape perspective. State-of–the art information on research and novel measurement and management technologies is presented in a simple question and answer style. The role of soils for feeding humanity, maintaining biodiversity and protecting the climate is highlighted. Facts are linked with novel international studies. Photographs and graphics illustrate soil functions, analyses and management options in specific landscapes. Numerous case studies in soil science, not yet published in English, are presented. They focus on landscapes in Northern Eurasia. Authors point on some critical issues of the current approaches to soil management. Knowledge and communication about soils can help to optimise the different stakeholder demands on soil use, enabling the survival of humanity in the 21st century. Basic knowledge of soil texture and structure, soil-forming factors, water balance, chemistry, biology, field diagnostic and sustainable management, which is important for everyone who makes professionally decisions about soils, must be improved. Soil science research should increasingly be conducted in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects and landscape observatories. Landscape planning and soil policies as instruments for guiding soil management should increasingly be based on scientific principles. The book is addressed to a wide range of stakeholders and students, including generalists and specialists in soil and landscape science research and teaching, scientists from neighbouring disciplines, employees of public authorities, farmers, horticulturalists and foresters as well as landscape planners and engineers.
