Foreword by Katsutoshi Sakurai
Future Soil Research: A Pedologist’s Perspective
Even today in the twenty-first century, we still live on a planet made up of sky, ocean and land.
Among these three, most human beings live the surface of consolidated land—soils—for our
entire lives. Soils have been the indispensable basis of the prosperity of humans since the
times of our ancestors, and this will not change greatly for our offspring in the future.
Most of our food has been produced on Earth through the blessing of sunshine. Energy
supplied by the sun is the strongest and long-lasting resources on Earth, now and in the future.
Energy for sustaining our lives on Earth is supplied from outside our planet. We can utilize
this energy without any modifications. On the other hand, the soil resources for producing our
food are not perpetual, since the soil properties are changed, modified and often degraded by
various activities of humans. For most people around the world, this is common sense. We
must, at the very least, maintain the basic quality of soils.
Soils are one of the most important features of Earth: They sustain life, including urban life,
through the support of agriculture; maintain a healthy natural environment, physically support
buildings and infrastructure; and provide us with places for recreation. Furthermore, soils are
closely related to global climate and culture. In sum, soils will always be with us as long as we
survive on Earth.
Environmental pollution is easy to recognize because its dangerous toxicity harms human
health. However, soil degradation is difficult to recognize without any outside symptoms, such
as an eroded soil surface (soil erosion) or salt crystallization on the soil surface (salinization).
In other words, we have to utilize soil resources through careful management practices. For
this reason, soil research should be continued not only for appropriate utilization but also for
conservation through proper management. Pedology is the most important cutting-edge field
for this purpose. Without knowledge of pedology, any practical management of soil-related
activities will fail.
Considering the future life of human beings on this planet, pedologists should make clear
the importance of basic soil research. To secure the world’s continued and sustainable prosperity, pedologists must draw on all aspects of the natural sciences. Every dataset or procedure, such as soil databases, soil maps, Landsat data and GIS systems, should be utilized
properly in order to (1) establish an integrated soil classification system; (2) conduct appropriate land use planning based on the evaluation of the pedological properties of soil resources;
(3) evaluate ecosystems in terms of soil–vegetation–water systems; and (4) establish an
overview of landscape ecology based on the relationship between soils, the natural environment and local communities.
ix
Future Soil Research: A Pedologist’s Perspective
Even today in the twenty-first century, we still live on a planet made up of sky, ocean and land.
Among these three, most human beings live the surface of consolidated land—soils—for our
entire lives. Soils have been the indispensable basis of the prosperity of humans since the
times of our ancestors, and this will not change greatly for our offspring in the future.
Most of our food has been produced on Earth through the blessing of sunshine. Energy
supplied by the sun is the strongest and long-lasting resources on Earth, now and in the future.
Energy for sustaining our lives on Earth is supplied from outside our planet. We can utilize
this energy without any modifications. On the other hand, the soil resources for producing our
food are not perpetual, since the soil properties are changed, modified and often degraded by
various activities of humans. For most people around the world, this is common sense. We
must, at the very least, maintain the basic quality of soils.
Soils are one of the most important features of Earth: They sustain life, including urban life,
through the support of agriculture; maintain a healthy natural environment, physically support
buildings and infrastructure; and provide us with places for recreation. Furthermore, soils are
closely related to global climate and culture. In sum, soils will always be with us as long as we
survive on Earth.
Environmental pollution is easy to recognize because its dangerous toxicity harms human
health. However, soil degradation is difficult to recognize without any outside symptoms, such
as an eroded soil surface (soil erosion) or salt crystallization on the soil surface (salinization).
In other words, we have to utilize soil resources through careful management practices. For
this reason, soil research should be continued not only for appropriate utilization but also for
conservation through proper management. Pedology is the most important cutting-edge field
for this purpose. Without knowledge of pedology, any practical management of soil-related
activities will fail.
Considering the future life of human beings on this planet, pedologists should make clear
the importance of basic soil research. To secure the world’s continued and sustainable prosperity, pedologists must draw on all aspects of the natural sciences. Every dataset or procedure, such as soil databases, soil maps, Landsat data and GIS systems, should be utilized
properly in order to (1) establish an integrated soil classification system; (2) conduct appropriate land use planning based on the evaluation of the pedological properties of soil resources;
(3) evaluate ecosystems in terms of soil–vegetation–water systems; and (4) establish an
overview of landscape ecology based on the relationship between soils, the natural environment and local communities.
ix