Mullasüsteeme

Mullasüsteeme, or soil systems, are the integrated physical, chemical, and biological processes that govern soils across landscapes. A soil system comprises mineral particles, organic matter, water, air, plant roots, and a diverse array of organisms, which interact within the soil matrix to shape properties and functions. Key functions include providing anchorage and support for vegetation, supplying nutrients and water, regulating water storage and movement, cycling carbon and other elements, filtering pollutants, and offering habitat for organisms.

Texture, structure, moisture regime, pH, and organic matter content determine porosity, drainage, nutrient availability, and resilience to disturbance. Soil horizons reflect formation processes: for example, organic-rich O horizons, mineral A and B horizons, and deeper C horizons, though exact patterns vary with climate and history. The five classic soil-forming factors are climate, parent material, relief (topography), biota, and time, which together drive development and variability of mullasüsteeme.

Management and conservation aim to maintain soil health and productivity. Practices include minimizing disturbance, maintaining ground cover, adding organic matter, crop rotation, and practices that enhance soil biota and structure. Sustainable soil systems support agricultural yields, water regulation, biodiversity, and carbon storage, while reducing erosion, salinization, and nutrient loss. Challenges include intensification, pollution, climate change, and land-use change, requiring integrated land management to preserve the ecosystem services provided by mullasüsteeme.