Consequences of Soil Degradation

Question 1

What are the conseqeunces of soil degradation?

Answer 1

• Erosion, desertification, loss of arable land
• Reduced productivity, crop failures
• Loss of biodiversity
• Permanent soil loss
• Loss of SOC stocks
• Increased use of fertilisers

Question 2

How much have SOC stocks been depleted by because of human land use?

Answer 2

~3.7%

Question 3

How much N fertiliser is added to soils in the UK each year?

Answer 3

~ 1 million tonnes

Question 4

How much CO2 is released in the production of N fertiliser?

Answer 4

7 million tonnes

Question 5

What are the current projections of arable land area?

Answer 5

15% decrease in arable land area per capita globally in the next 30 years.
But population will increase 20% in the next 30 years.
Not sustainable