PHYSICAL SOIL DEGRADATION - STATUS PARAMETERS

The essence, reasons, agents, and consequences of soil physical degrad ation are considered at the horizon, profile, and landscape-topographi c levels. A set of independent parameters of the pore-space structure is substantiated; these are textural and stable specific porosity, fis suring, and coefficient of soil textural shrinkage. Intervals and leve ls for these characteristics are presented in the form of five-gradati on scales, together with a scale for an overall assessment of soil phy sical status.