Climate Change and Soil Sustainability: The Challenge of the 21st Century

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change has significantly impacted soil sustainability worldwide. As global temperatures rise and precipitation patterns become more variable, soils are facing increasing challenges that affect their ability to sustain healthy ecosystems and sustainable agricultural production.

One of the main concerns is the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts, intense storms, and heatwaves. These events can drastically alter soil conditions, leading to soil erosion, decreased fertility, and a loss of organic matter. Soil erosion is exacerbated by more frequent heavy rainfall, which can remove nutrient-rich surface layers essential for plant growth.

Furthermore, global warming is altering hydrological cycles, leading to changes in rainfall patterns and water availability. This directly affects the soil moisture and plants' ability to access water and nutrients. In many regions, decreasing water availability is making agriculture more challenging, especially for drought-sensitive crops.

Climate change also has implications for soil biodiversity, which plays a crucial role in maintaining soil health and fertility. Extreme heat events and changes in precipitation patterns can affect microbial activity, organic matter decomposition, and nutrient cycling in the soil, thereby influencing crop productivity and ecosystem stability.

The goals of this Special Issue are to gather emerging research focused on the challenges of soil sustainability in times of climate change, with the aim of helping to develop integrated and proactive approaches capable of protecting and restoring soil health and ensuring food and environmental security for future generations.

Dr. Ana Paula Honrado Pinto
Dr. Ana Vitória Barrocas Dordio
Dr. Alfredo Jorge Palace Carvalho
Guest Editors

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• climatic change
• ecosystems
• fertility
• food security
• nutrient cycling
• organic matter
• plant growth
• soil health
• sustainability
• water