Summary
This review, authored by a large international team, challenges traditional static models of soil structure by foregrounding the dynamic role of biological processes—microbial, fungal, faunal, and plant-mediated—in shaping soil form and function. Published in Earth-Science Reviews (2021), the paper situates soil structure within the broader critical zone framework, emphasising how living systems drive soil physical properties and their functional consequences for water cycling, contaminant transport, and nutrient availability in anthropogenic landscapes. The work appears intended to reorient soil science towards integrative, biology-centred paradigms relevant to understanding soil behaviour in changed climates and land uses.
UK applicability
The conceptual framework is globally relevant and applicable to UK soil science and land management policy, where soil structure degradation from intensification is a recognised threat. The emphasis on biological drivers of soil function aligns with emerging UK agricultural policy priorities around soil health and regenerative practices, though site-specific validations would be needed for temperate agroecosystems.
Key measures
Soil structure characteristics; biological activity; critical zone processes; life-driven soil formation
Outcomes reported
The paper examines the role of biological processes in shaping soil structure within critical zones of the Anthropocene, integrating perspectives from soil science, hydrology, and ecology. It appears to synthesise understanding of how life influences soil physical properties and their cascading effects on ecosystem services.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.