2. Floors

2.1 Basic soil characteristics

Soil is certainly the most poorly understood component of the environment, even though it is the direct support for most human activities. Since the dawn of mankind, soil has been equated with Mother Earth, in other words, with the support of agriculture and forestry. One of the major concerns for the 21st century is whether soil and water resources will be sufficient to feed a growing population (11 billion people expected by 2050). It is only recently, and often following the discovery of soil pollution caused by industrial or agricultural activities, that we have become aware of the importance of other soil functions and the need to safeguard them