Climate regulation
The capacity of a soil to reduce the negative impact of increased greenhouse gas (i.e., CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions on climate, among which its capacity to store carbon.
Adsorption
Process by which atoms, molecules or ions are retained on the surfaces of solids by chemical or physical bonding.
Absorption
Uptake of matter or energy by a substance.
Precipitation
Water reaching the ground from rainfall, snow and hail. Nr Environmental Zone Main locations and characteristics 1 Alpine North (ALN) Scandinavian mountains 2 Alpine South (ALS) The high mountains of central and southern Europe 3 Atlantic North (ATN) NW Europe; under influence of the Atlantic ocean and the North sea 4 Atlantic Central (ATC) Western [...]
Effective rainfall
(1) The rainfall useful for meeting plant water requirements. This does not include water percolating down to aquifers, or surface runoff of water (cf. definition (2)!) (2) The difference between precipitation and evapotranspiration, i.e. the water percolating to aquifers or surface runoff (cf. definition (1)!). (3) The amount of rainfall after subtracting the fraction that [...]
B horizon
Mineral horizon below an O, A, or E horizon. The B horizon show evidences of soil forming processes which distinguish it from the parent material of soil (underlying C horizon). The distinctive characteristics can be: (1) accumulation (iluviation) of clay, sesquioxides, humus, or a combination of these; (2) granular, prismatic, or blocky structure; (3) redder [...]
A horizon
The mineral horizon at or near the surface in which an accumulation of humified organic matter is mixed with the mineral material. Also, any ploughed or disturbed surface layer.
Conventional Tillage
Full width tillage that disturbs the entire soil surface which is generally performed prior to planting. It usually involves a primary operation by depth ploughing or chiselling (commonly to 20-30 cm depth), followed by secondary operation such as rotavating or harrowing that pulverizes, flattens, and firms the surface.
Conservation agriculture (CA)
A farming method including minimum soil disturbance (no tillage, minimum tillage, reduced tillage, strip tillage, direct drill), crop rotation, and permanent soil cover (http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/).
Conventional farming
A farming method that includes the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides and genetically modified organisms, allowing this type of farms to be less depending on cultural (crop rotation, inclusion of crops fixing atmospheric N), biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.