Soils: the final frontier recedes
Approximately 20 years ago (June 11th, 2004), a highly reputable scientific journal, on a front cover much celebrated by soil scientists, printed an eye-catching phrase: “Soils: The Final Frontier”. In the introduction to that special issue, it was mentioned that “in many ways the ground beneath our...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Soil Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2024.1495941/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1846164464235184128 |
|---|---|
| author | Carlos Garbisu Itziar Alkorta Olatz Unamunzaga |
| author_facet | Carlos Garbisu Itziar Alkorta Olatz Unamunzaga |
| author_sort | Carlos Garbisu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Approximately 20 years ago (June 11th, 2004), a highly reputable scientific journal, on a front cover much celebrated by soil scientists, printed an eye-catching phrase: “Soils: The Final Frontier”. In the introduction to that special issue, it was mentioned that “in many ways the ground beneath our feet is as alien as a distant planet”, to then state that, owing to the booming interest in soil research at that time, together with the development of advanced techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing), subterraneana would be made “seem far less of an alien experience”. In this perspective article, using as illustrations, by way of example only, two topics of great interest nowadays – soil carbon sequestration and soil biodiversity –, it is claimed that, despite all the efforts devoted in the last 20 years to the understanding of the soil ecosystem, the “final frontier” appears to have receded, as we are discovering increasing levels of complexity that are slowing down our trip to the far reaches of the edaphic universe. Due to, among other features, its high structural and functional complexity, biodiversity, heterogeneity, opacity, and processual and dynamic nature, the soil still remains a great unknown (“a black box”). The ultimate goal of this perspective article is to draw attention to the need for further long-term investment in research into this highly complex and fascinating ecosystem. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4ce87290c7ca40b09bbfb6e5de0e3f90 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-8619 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Soil Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-4ce87290c7ca40b09bbfb6e5de0e3f902024-11-18T06:10:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Soil Science2673-86192024-11-01410.3389/fsoil.2024.14959411495941Soils: the final frontier recedesCarlos Garbisu0Itziar Alkorta1Olatz Unamunzaga2Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, NEIKER – Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, SpainDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, SpainDepartment of Conservation of Natural Resources, NEIKER – Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio, SpainApproximately 20 years ago (June 11th, 2004), a highly reputable scientific journal, on a front cover much celebrated by soil scientists, printed an eye-catching phrase: “Soils: The Final Frontier”. In the introduction to that special issue, it was mentioned that “in many ways the ground beneath our feet is as alien as a distant planet”, to then state that, owing to the booming interest in soil research at that time, together with the development of advanced techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing), subterraneana would be made “seem far less of an alien experience”. In this perspective article, using as illustrations, by way of example only, two topics of great interest nowadays – soil carbon sequestration and soil biodiversity –, it is claimed that, despite all the efforts devoted in the last 20 years to the understanding of the soil ecosystem, the “final frontier” appears to have receded, as we are discovering increasing levels of complexity that are slowing down our trip to the far reaches of the edaphic universe. Due to, among other features, its high structural and functional complexity, biodiversity, heterogeneity, opacity, and processual and dynamic nature, the soil still remains a great unknown (“a black box”). The ultimate goal of this perspective article is to draw attention to the need for further long-term investment in research into this highly complex and fascinating ecosystem.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2024.1495941/fullbiodiversitycarbon sequestrationmicrobial ecologysoil ecosystemsoil researchsoil science |
| spellingShingle | Carlos Garbisu Itziar Alkorta Olatz Unamunzaga Soils: the final frontier recedes Frontiers in Soil Science biodiversity carbon sequestration microbial ecology soil ecosystem soil research soil science |
| title | Soils: the final frontier recedes |
| title_full | Soils: the final frontier recedes |
| title_fullStr | Soils: the final frontier recedes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soils: the final frontier recedes |
| title_short | Soils: the final frontier recedes |
| title_sort | soils the final frontier recedes |
| topic | biodiversity carbon sequestration microbial ecology soil ecosystem soil research soil science |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoil.2024.1495941/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT carlosgarbisu soilsthefinalfrontierrecedes AT itziaralkorta soilsthefinalfrontierrecedes AT olatzunamunzaga soilsthefinalfrontierrecedes |