About this Research Topic
Soil is the foundation of terrestrial ecosystem productivity, and the quality of soil has a direct impact on ecosystem productivity. Land degradation is one of the world's most serious environmental issues, resulting in a decrease in soil organic matter, productivity, and thus ecosystem destruction. Overall, land degradation has an impact on human society's survival and development. Arid and semi-arid areas cover approximately 45% of the terrestrial land area and support over 2 billion people. The region's ecosystems are extremely fragile and vulnerable to global climate change and human activity. How to deal with land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions is a major challenge to human society's long-term development. Therefore, preventing soil degradation and restoring the damaged soil ecosystem in arid and semi-arid environments is a pressing scientific issue.
In this Research Topic, we seek to (1) understand the causes of soil deterioration and its mechanisms in global arid and semi-arid regions; (2) identify key strategies and ecological mechanisms for soil restoration and improvement in arid and semi-arid regions; (3) determine the main soil processes that change with soil degradation and restoration in arid and semi-arid locations; (4) provide a theoretical framework and practical advice for soil restoration, ecological restoration, and pest management in arid settings. This Research Topic's ultimate goal is to offer a technological framework and scientific foundation for reducing land degradation and improving the quality and productivity of degraded land in arid and semi-arid regions.
Contributions called in the Research Topic will be concerned with, but not limited to soil degradation processes caused by the following factors, including their remediation/restoration theories and technologies used in arid and semi-arid regions:
• soil water erosion;
• soil wind erosion;
• irrational land use (deforestation, overgrazing, etc.);
• climate change (drought, rainstorms, etc.); and
• soil compaction, acidification, salinization, plastic film and pesticide, and other factors.
In this Research Topic, we seek to (1) understand the causes of soil deterioration and its mechanisms in global arid and semi-arid regions; (2) identify key strategies and ecological mechanisms for soil restoration and improvement in arid and semi-arid regions; (3) determine the main soil processes that change with soil degradation and restoration in arid and semi-arid locations; (4) provide a theoretical framework and practical advice for soil restoration, ecological restoration, and pest management in arid settings. This Research Topic's ultimate goal is to offer a technological framework and scientific foundation for reducing land degradation and improving the quality and productivity of degraded land in arid and semi-arid regions.
Contributions called in the Research Topic will be concerned with, but not limited to soil degradation processes caused by the following factors, including their remediation/restoration theories and technologies used in arid and semi-arid regions:
• soil water erosion;
• soil wind erosion;
• irrational land use (deforestation, overgrazing, etc.);
• climate change (drought, rainstorms, etc.); and
• soil compaction, acidification, salinization, plastic film and pesticide, and other factors.
Keywords: Arid and semi-arid areas, Soil degradation, Soil restoration, Soil erosion, Soil organic matter, Soil nutrients, Climate change, Human activities
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
