1 Gergely Tóth 1, Luca Montanarella 1, György Várallyay 2, Tibor Tóth 2 and Nikola Filippi 1 1 European Commission Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Land Management and Natural Hazards Unit 2 Research institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Strengthening optimal food chain element transport by minimizing soil degradation: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOIL THREATS IDENTIFICATION ON DIFFERENT SCALES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

2 Framework of soil protection in the EU Based on the upcoming Directive on Protection and Sustainable Use of Soil and on EC Communication (2002/179) Preservation of soil functions - biomass production, - physical and cultural environment for humans - biodiversity pool- archive of geological and acheological heritage - source of raw material- acting as carbon pool - storing filtering and transforming nutrients, substances and water Prevention of threats to soil - erosion, - soil organic matter decline, - salinization - compaction, - landslides - (soil sealing, contamination) Integration of soil protection measures and principles to other policies

3 The ’Two Tiers’ concept Tier 1, is a step to provide tool for risk area identification based on qualitative or model-based descriptions using lower data resolution. (European level) Tier 2, is a second step, to provide tool, for risk area delineation and characterization based on higher resolution data. (Member States level)

4 Flow of information on soil threat

5 Conditions exemined for each threats (to define common criteria of risk identification throughout Europe)  identification of factors/hazards related to the threat („external” factors)  characterization of the receptor relevant to the threat („internal” soil factors)  performance specification, model selection (with data requirements)

6 Application of the two tiers approach TierTargetDescription Tier 1Broad risk zones identification (problem identification and localization) available data at European-level Geographical scale of 1:1,000,000/1:250,000 Soil-specific qualitative approach, and/or Model-based (pedo-transfer rule) approach combined with thresholds indicators Tier 2 Detailed risk zone delineation. Measures/implementation plans to protect and/or prevent soils within the risk zones Data available/relevant at the Member State level (e.g. regional soil maps) Qualitative/quantitative/model approach

7 Summary Table Common Criteria: Salinization Common criteria Data source/type of information Data Quality /Resolution Tier 1Tier 2 soil typological unitEuropean Soil Database; National soil databases 1:1,000,000 (1:250,000) national soil texturetexture class; Sand, Silt, Clay contenttexture classparticle size soil hydraulic properties hydraulic conductivity, water retention, drainage not required for in Tier 1 national profile data base; soil inventory / monitoring irrigation areas and chemical properties of irrigated water irrigated area, irrigation intensity, salt content, sodicity, alkalinity of irrigation water national registriesregional registry groundwater information depth, salt content, sodicity, alkalinity European Groundwater Database (salt concentration, type of salt) regional database climate annual rainfall, annual potential evapotranspiration 1 km raster size (modelled from national weather station network) same or higher

8 Salt affected soils in Europe (source: I. Szabolcs, 1974)

9 Summary Table Common Criteria: Compaction Common criteria Data source/type of information Data Quality /Resolution Tier 1Tier 2 SMU/STU delineation National soil databasesnationalregional STU topsoil and subsoil texture texture class or mean silt, clay and sand content texture classparticle size STU description bulk density, water retention, organic matter content, structure, mechanical properties pedotransfer functions or rules measurements climaterainfall, PET average year with monthly or 10-day data NUTS 3 or 50 km 20 to30 years with one day data 10 km land use statistical data about agriculture and forestry: crop types and forest areas, types of farming systems (annual crops, vineyards, animal breeding, etc.), type of forests NUTS 3NUTS 4 farming and forest systems typology of farming systems or forestry systems in relation to land use data expert knowledgesurvey data land cover localisation of agricultural areas, forest areas, etc. using data like CORINE land cover 250 m100 m slopeDigital Elevation Model250 m90 m

10 Susceptibility to Subsoil Compaction in Europe (source: Jones, R.J.A. et al., 2004)

11 Summary Table Common Criteria: Erosion Common criteria Data source/type of information Data Quality /Resolution Tier 1Tier 2 soil typological unit (STU) (soil type) European/national soil databasesnational levelregional level soil texture (STU level)sand, silt, clay contenttexture classparticle size soil density, hydraulic properties (STU level) bulk density, packing density, water retention art field capacity and wilting point pedo-transfer-rules (PTR) or functions measured data topographygradient (slope), length250m (SRTM)90m land coverland cover type250m100m land useland use, agricultural statisticsNUTS3NUTS4 climate precipitation, rainfall, snowfall, number of rain days, storm events, PET, temperature 10 km daily average 50km daily average 1 km raster (modelled from national hydrological conditions catchment information system, DEM10km1km agro-ecological zonebased on soil, climate, landscape50km1km

12 Source: Pan-European Soil Erosion Risk Assessment (PESERA) Soil erosion risk in Europe

13 Summary Table Common Criteria: SOM Decline common criteria data source/type of information minimum data quality /resolution Tier 1Tier 2 soil typological unit (soil type) soil type: provide1:1,000,000 (1:250,000)1:250,000 or larger soil texture/clay content standard textural analysis; textural classes according to official classification not required for Tier 1 national profile data base; soil inventory/monitoring soil organic carbon (concentration) analysis: dry combustion, [g/kg], or pedo- transfer function not required for Tier 1 forest floor, peaty layers, 0-30 cm soil organic carbon (stock) [kg/m 2 ], [t/ha]; requires: - stone content - bulk density not required for Tier 1 forest floor, peaty layers, 0-30 cm climate annual average precipitation; annual average temperature 10 km grid climatic data 1 km raster size (modelled from national weather station network) slope, exposition, position in relief DEM250msame or higher land cover/land use CORINE; LUCAS SSU extended by soil type; management statistics 250m NUTS III same or higher

14 Organic carbon content in the surface horizon (0-30 cm) of soils in Europe

15 Bringing soil carbon to policy & decisions Max tC Min tC Actual tC Max & Min tC are soil specific Years tC Potential Carbon Sequestration, PCS Carbon Sequestration Rate, CSR Potential Carbon Loss, PCL Carbon Loss Rate, CLR

16 Conclusions - A proposal for common criteria for delineation of areas in risk of soil degradation has been prepared (by SIWG, JRC and ESBN). - It should be achievable to develop a common framework, which attempts to keep the linkage of soil information in EU Member States with pan-European data. - Much efforts still have to be conducted to establish an efficient workflow for updating and maintaining thematic layers with highly detailed information (in a participatory approach). - The new "Multiscale EUropean Soil Information System" should be integrated into more comprehensive/multi-layer monitoring and reporting programmes, for example the Commission's Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) initiative. - In this manner the infrastructure and access to soil information transfer can be developed to assist the protection of the multifunctionality of soils and contribute to optimal food chain element transport.

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