Land Capability Assessment

Description

Understanding how soils and landscapes have evolved provides the key to managing terrestrial environments effectively and making sound decisions for sustainable land use. This unit covers the processes contributing to soil formation and degradation such chemical transformation, translocation of solids and fluids and wind or water erosion for example. These processes are presented within a geomorphic and hydrological context. Based on this understanding soil classification is introduced, followed by the definition and mapping of soil and land capability classes which form the basis of a land capability assessment. A land capability assessment helps businesses and society in general to make the necessary decision for a sustainable usage of the land such as agriculture, forestry, mining, nature conservation or urbanisation.