Soil is the foundation of terrestrial ecosystem productivity, and the quality of soil has a direct impact on ecosystem productivity. Land degradation is one of the world's most serious environmental issues, resulting in a decrease in soil organic matter, productivity, and thus ecosystem destruction. Overall, land degradation has an impact on human society's survival and development. Arid and semi-arid areas cover approximately 45% of the terrestrial land area and support over 2 billion people. The region's ecosystems are extremely fragile and vulnerable to global climate change and human activity. How to deal with land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions is a major challenge to human society's long-term development. Therefore, preventing soil degradation and restoring the damaged soil ecosystem in arid and semi-arid environments is a pressing scientific issue.
In this Research Topic, we seek to (1) understand the causes of soil deterioration and its mechanisms in global arid and semi-arid regions; (2) identify key strategies and ecological mechanisms for soil restoration and improvement in arid and semi-arid regions; (3) determine the main soil processes that change with soil degradation and restoration in arid and semi-arid locations; (4) provide a theoretical framework and practical advice for soil restoration, ecological restoration, and pest management in arid settings. This Research Topic's ultimate goal is to offer a technological framework and scientific foundation for reducing land degradation and improving the quality and productivity of degraded land in arid and semi-arid regions.
Contributions called in the Research Topic will be concerned with, but not limited to soil degradation processes caused by the following factors, including their remediation/restoration theories and technologies used in arid and semi-arid regions:
• soil water erosion;
• soil wind erosion;
• irrational land use (deforestation, overgrazing, etc.);
• climate change (drought, rainstorms, etc.); and
• soil compaction, acidification, salinization, plastic film and pesticide, and other factors.
Soil is the foundation of terrestrial ecosystem productivity, and the quality of soil has a direct impact on ecosystem productivity. Land degradation is one of the world's most serious environmental issues, resulting in a decrease in soil organic matter, productivity, and thus ecosystem destruction. Overall, land degradation has an impact on human society's survival and development. Arid and semi-arid areas cover approximately 45% of the terrestrial land area and support over 2 billion people. The region's ecosystems are extremely fragile and vulnerable to global climate change and human activity. How to deal with land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions is a major challenge to human society's long-term development. Therefore, preventing soil degradation and restoring the damaged soil ecosystem in arid and semi-arid environments is a pressing scientific issue.
In this Research Topic, we seek to (1) understand the causes of soil deterioration and its mechanisms in global arid and semi-arid regions; (2) identify key strategies and ecological mechanisms for soil restoration and improvement in arid and semi-arid regions; (3) determine the main soil processes that change with soil degradation and restoration in arid and semi-arid locations; (4) provide a theoretical framework and practical advice for soil restoration, ecological restoration, and pest management in arid settings. This Research Topic's ultimate goal is to offer a technological framework and scientific foundation for reducing land degradation and improving the quality and productivity of degraded land in arid and semi-arid regions.
Contributions called in the Research Topic will be concerned with, but not limited to soil degradation processes caused by the following factors, including their remediation/restoration theories and technologies used in arid and semi-arid regions:
• soil water erosion;
• soil wind erosion;
• irrational land use (deforestation, overgrazing, etc.);
• climate change (drought, rainstorms, etc.); and
• soil compaction, acidification, salinization, plastic film and pesticide, and other factors.
