SOIL QUALITY AND ITS DEPENDENCE ON DYNAMIC PHYSICAL PROCESSES

Protecting the ability of the soil resource to operate for the benefit of all biological entities is a necessary and unarguable goal. Soils are central to life, and the processes that occur in soils are crucial components of the global ecosystem. Protecting these resources from d eterioration as a result of human activities is the present focus of m any, not only in the scientific community, but in society at-large. Ec ologists, climatologists, hydrologists and, of course, agriculturalist s are well aware of the importance of protecting soil quality. So too, have land-use planners, public works engineers, water quality special ists, and fertilizer and pesticide dealers become aware of the importa nce of maintaining the ability of soil to sustain plant growth, infilt rate and redistribute water and chemicals, and act as natural biologic al Biters. The dynamic processes that exist in a soil system are the d eterminants of the soil's condition, or quality, at any one time. Thes e dynamic processes determine the potential of the soil to, for exampl e, redistribute water, allow gas exchange, and bear a load at a specif ic time. Prediction of soil quality must project the effect of these d ynamic processes in current or proposed management systems, if soil qu ality is to be maintained or enhanced.