Soil is a key resource for mankind. It provides a number of functions that are vital to the environment and for societies across the world. The quality of soil - its ability to provide these various functions - depends on many different processes that reflect biological, chemical and physical interactions.

Understanding how soils carry out its functions is imperative if we are to maintain soil quality to meet the needs of society.

Our understanding of these processes will help inform the development of management techniques capable of maintaining and improving the condition of soil for current and future needs.