Soiltilstand

Soiltilstand, or soil condition, is a descriptor used in soil science to describe the current physical, chemical, and biological state of a soil. It reflects how well soil functions to support plant growth, water regulation, carbon storage, and habitat for soil life. The concept encompasses short-term variations due to weather and management, as well as longer-term changes from land use and climate.

Key components include physical properties such as texture, structure, porosity, bulk density, and water–air balance; chemical properties such as pH, nutrient availability, cation exchange capacity, salinity, and contamination; and biological properties such as microbial activity, respiration, and the diversity of soil fauna. Indicators used to describe soiltilstand include organic matter content, aggregate stability, infiltration rate, erosion risk, drainage status, and biological indicators like earthworm abundance or microbial biomass.

Assessment is carried out through field observations, simple in-situ tests (e.g., soil moisture, compaction tests), laboratory analyses of nutrient levels and pH, and more comprehensive soil-health indices. Data are used to classify land for management, guide fertilizer and amendment decisions, and monitor changes over time through mapping and reporting.

Soil tilstand is affected by climate, land management, cultivation practices, soil disturbance, irrigation, and pollution. Poor soiltilstand can reduce crop yields, increase erosion and runoff, limit water infiltration, and lower biodiversity.

Management aims to improve soiltilstand by maintaining or increasing organic matter, reducing soil disturbance, improving structure, optimizing drainage, and adjusting pH and nutrients with amendments. Practices include cover cropping, compost addition, reduced tillage, crop rotations, mulching, and targeted remediation of contaminated areas.