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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2006; v. 266; p. 9-22;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2006.266.01.02
© 2006 Geological Society of London

Functions, services and value of soil organic matter for human societies and the environment: a historical perspective

C. Feller1, R. J. Manlay2,3, M. J. Swift3,4 & M. Bernoux3

1 Institute for Research and Development (IRD, ex-ORSTOM), UR179, BP 434, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar (e-mail: feller{at}ird.mg)
2 Institute of Forestry, Agricultural and Environmental Engineering (ENGREF), BP 44494, F-34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
3 IRD, UR179, BP 64501, F-34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
4 Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF-CIAT), PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya

Soil organic matter (SOM) contributes significantly to the chemical, physical and biological ecosystem functions of soil. It influences on plant growth, thus contributing to agricultural production, and performs environmentally valuable services such as carbon sequestration, regulation of the water cycle and detoxification of pollutants. Identification of the functions and services provided by SOM has a long and tumultuous history of scientific discoveries and struggles against false assumptions. This work reports the major steps of this history, with emphasis on two services secured by SOM: (1) the role of SOM in plant production and its connection to soil fertility and thence to the sustainability of cropping and farming systems; and (2) the recognition and assessment of the contribution of SOM to climate-change regulation. Finally, the work explores how SOM, as a multifunctional resource, may be allocated an economic value as a way of promoting its conservation.





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W. E. H. Blum, B. P. Warkentin, and E. Frossard
Soil, human society and the environment
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2006; 266: 1 - 8.
[Abstract] [PDF]