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Soil degradation refers to processes that lead to a decrease in its fertility or production capacity and other useful roles that the soil plays in the ecosystem due to human activity or natural conditions. The soil is exposed to the processes of physical, chemical and biological degradation. From the physical processes of degradation, the following can be distinguished: loss of fertile soil due to erosion by water and wind, deterioration of the structure and soil compaction, and desertification. Chemical processes of soil degradation refer to: leaching of nutrients and toxicity due to acidic or basic soil reaction (salinization or alkalization) and harmful substances in the soil. The decrease in the content of organic matter and biological diversity of the soil belongs to the biological processes of degradation. All these processes, which are primarily human-caused and less the result of natural conditions, adversely affect the fertility, productivity, quality and health of the soil. Milder forms of soil erosion by water in Croatia are possible on 27.2%, and stronger forms on 48.3% of the surface. On steep cliffs, soil collapse is also possible. Along with soil erosion, a big problem in the world and in our country is anthropogenic soil compaction. About 4% of the total area of degraded soils in the world belongs to compacted soils. One of the key problems is soil desertification, and about 30% of arable land in the world is exposed to this process. Eastern Slavonia, with its arid climatic conditions, is the most exposed to desertification in our country. Acidification, salinization and alkalization should definitely be distinguished from the chemical processes of degradation. About 14% of the world's total soil fund belongs to acidic soils, and 2.4% to saline and alkaline soils. Around 28% of acid soils and less than 0.01% of saline and alkaline soils can be distinguished here. Many authors point out that the degradation of the biological characteristics of the soil is a big problem in the world and in our country. In our soils, which are in intensive agricultural production, humus is often less than 2%, and this is of course reflected in the decline in soil biodiversity. In the paper, the causes and consequences of these degradation processes are detected and appropriate guidelines are given for better soil management and measures for its remediation are recommended. |
