Soil Transformations in European Catchments

SoilTrEC proposes to develop an integrated model of soil processes that describes key soil functions. These functions are defined in the EC Soil Thematic Strategy as essential ecosystem services for the well-being and economic success of the EU.

The key science advances are to develop, from first-principles, computational models that integrate soil erosion, solute transport, carbon dynamics and food web dynamics within an open-source modelling framework.

This framework will provide the platform, together with existing GIS capacity, for a prototype simulator at EU-scale to assess soil threats and evaluate approaches to mitigation. This physical-based modelling will be integrated with new advances in decision support developed from life cycle and economic assessment methodologies for natural resources. A key conceptual advance of this project is to quantify soil stocks, their formation, loss and functions within the context of the earth’s Critical Zone. This encompasses the terrestrial environment from the top of the biosphere’s tree canopy to the bedrock delineating the lower bounds of freshwater aquifers.

SoilTrEC will link 4 EU field sites that describe key stages within the life cycle of soil formation, its productive use and degradation. Existing data sets will be augmented with targeted process studies in order to provide the data sets to validate the integrated model of soil processes. These process studies will be integrated with results from additional EU, USA and Chinese field sites to compare soil processes and rates as they vary with lithology, climate and land use. These sites and their teams will be integrated through shared results and an international research training programme into a global network of Critical Zone Observatories.

This programme of research will engage very actively with stakeholders involved in the practical management of land, and will draw strongly on the advice and guidance of international leaders in soil sustainability.

New comprehensive soil model developed

Researchers have developed a framework for monitoring soil function in the EU that includes data collection, management and modelling.

The global ecosystem is under increasing pressure due to a rapidly growing population and human-driven climate change. Maintaining a functional ecosystem and protecting soil functions such as water filtering and food production requires an improved understanding of soil processes.

Funded by the EU, the SOILTREC (Soil transformations in European catchments) project aimed to address this problem by developing a model of soil functions. These functions are described in the European Commission's Soil Thematic Strategy as being essential for continued ecosystem functioning.

SOILTREC established four critical zone observatories in the EU to provide a range of soil types and conditions. The critical zone is the thin layer around the Earth from the tallest trees to the lowest aquifers in the bedrock providing water for life.

Data gathered from this network of observatories (such as on water flow and movement of chemicals) was used to design an integrated model of soil function. The model was tested and validated by researchers for each zone, and it was used for inter-zone comparison of soil function. It describes water movement, changes in soil carbon and changes in the soil food web.

Finally, the model was applied for life-cycle assessment of soil function for the island of Crete in Greece. This information, together with an economic evaluation, can be used to develop indicators of a sustainable and productive soil ecosystem.

The SOILTREC project has taken steps towards a system for evaluating soil ecosystem functioning. The project will contribute to improved agricultural productivity in Europe through the Critical Zone Observatories and the computational framework it developed.