Project
The issue of scale when considering synergies and trade-offs in soil functions
Using existing datasets we will for the first time assess the synergies and trade-offs between the five soil functions associated with agricultural production systems in The Netherlands, at a range of scales from field to region. Soils deliver five key agricultural soil functions, which are; primary productivity, nutrient cycling, climate regulation and carbon sequestration, water regulation and purification and finally providing a habitat for biodiversity.
Land use generally implies a local focus on a few soil functions, but you cannot have it all on the same field. However five (soil) functions can be achieved in a mosaic of field at a larger scale of landscape or region.