Böden

Böden is the plural form of the German noun Boden and is used in two broad senses: everyday language and scientific terminology. In ordinary speech, Böden refers to the surfaces inside buildings that people walk on, i.e., floors. These floors are described by their material (such as wood, concrete, or tile), finish, and performance characteristics, including load-bearing capacity, slip resistance, and acoustic or thermal properties. Floors are designed for safety, durability, comfort, and suitability to use, with layers such as underlays, insulation, and coverings.

In the natural sciences, Böden denotes soils—the upper, weathered part of the Earth's crust that supports plant life. Soils are complex systems composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, and living organisms. Important properties include texture (the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay), structure, pH, nutrient availability, and organic matter content. Soils form through pedogenesis, influenced by climate, organisms, relief, parent material, and time. Classification schemes, such as the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB), group soils into reference types like Luvisols, Arenosols, and Gleysols, and describe their typical uses and limitations.

Soil management focuses on fertility, drainage, erosion control, and contamination prevention. Böden are essential for agriculture, water regulation, and biodiversity, yet they are vulnerable to degradation from erosion, compaction, pollution, and inappropriate land use. Sustainable practices aim to conserve soil resources for food security and ecological health.