Agricultural land degradation in Portugal and Greece

bookPart

Ferreira, Carla S. S.
Duarte, A.C.
Boulet, Anne K.
Veiga, Adélcia
Maneas, Giorgos
Kalantari, Zahra

Springer

FERREIRA, C.S.S. [et al.] (2023) - Agricultural land degradation in Portugal and Greece. In The handbook of environmental chemistry. Berlin : Springer. DOI 10.1007/698_2022_950

10.1007/698_2022_950

Agricultural land degradation in Portugal and Greece

Agricultural land degradation
Compaction
Contamination
Greece
Portugal
Salinity and sodicity
Soil erosion

2023-02-16T16:24:34Z
2023-02-16T16:24:34Z
2023

Agricultural land degradation is a global problem affecting food production and other ecosystem services worldwide such as water regulation. It is driven by unsustainable land use and management practices (e.g. intensive tillage, overuse of agrochemicals) and can be aggravated by future climate change. Land degradation is particularly problematic in arid and semi-arid areas of southern Europe, and distinct soil degradation processes impair agricultural areas in Portugal and Greece. This chapter aims to improve understanding of various degradation processes affecting agricultural land, including soil erosion, compaction, contamination, and salinity and sodicity. It summarises the scientific literature on the current status of these degradation processes in agricultural areas of Portugal and Greece and their main causes and consequences. Moreover, it provides examples of best management practices implemented to mitigate agricultural land degradation. Some degradation processes are relatively well documented (e.g. erosion), while knowledge of the spatial extent of others such as soil compaction is still limited. A better understanding of soil degradation processes and of the counter-impacts of improved agricultural management practices is critical to support decision-making and ensure long-term fertility and productivity, thereby maintaining the sustainability of agriculture.
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