打破土壤:人类,历史和土壤
J R McNeill1, Verena Winiwarter
1Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Intercultural Center 600, Box 571035, Georgetown University, 3700 O Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20057-1035, USA. mcneillj@georgetown.edu
概括
人类社区长期以来一直依赖于土壤获取食物和营养,早期文明崇尚它. 然而,现代人类的行为加速了土壤侵蚀,改变了营养循环.
科学领域:
- 农业科学 农业科学
- 环境科学 环境科学
- 土壤科学 土壤科学
背景情况:
- 在历史上,土壤一直是人类文明的基础,提供了必需的食物和营养素.
- 早期的书面记录通常集中在农业实践上,强调了土壤管理的重要性.
- 古代文化经常将土壤视为生命的源泉,强调土壤的重要作用.
研究的目的:
- 检查人类社区与土壤之间的历史关系.
- 了解土壤的重要性从古代到现在的演变.
- 突出最近人类活动对土壤健康和营养循环的影响.
主要方法:
- 农业文本和文化实践的历史分析.
- 对有关土壤侵蚀和营养物流的环境数据的审查.
- 在不同历史时期对人类与土壤相互作用的比较研究.
主要成果:
- 土壤为早期人类的维持和农业发展提供了基础.
- 过去两个世纪的人类活动显著增加了土壤侵蚀率.
- 人类的故意和非故意行动已经大大改变了土壤中的自然营养流.
结论:
- 人与土壤之间的关系已经从敬畏和依赖转变为具有重大环境影响的关系.
- 了解人类与土壤的历史相互作用对于应对当代土壤退化至关重要.
- 迫切需要注意减轻人类对土壤资源的负面影响,以实现未来的可持续性.
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