Soil quality a 'big part of climate change'

Soil quality is a big part of climate change, according to Chuck Rice, who argues: "the relationship is a two-way street since climate change also can affect food and fibre production in the future."

As Earth Day 2012 approaches, a lot of focus will be on soil quality and plant quality around the world. Mr Rice argues that the problems will intensify the longer we let them go unnoticed, and environmentalists should be using Earth Day as an opportunity to highlight these growing concerns.

Mr Rice, who is a K-State university distinguished professor of agronomy, said: “Food and energy security, water availability and quality, and climate change adaptation and mitigation are some of the greatest challenges facing our society.

“Appropriate management of soils offers the potential to provide solutions for each of these challenges.”

Mitigating climate change means strict agricultural practices should be in place. This means adapting cropping systems in response to climate changes and protecting natural resources in order to meet future demands for food, feed, fibre and bioenergy.

Posted by Joseph Hutton