Soils have the following potential functions:
• BIOMASS PRODUCTION
Food production, forage, fibre, renewable energies, forests.
• TRANSFORMATION AND PURIFICATION SYSTEMS
Physical reactor, chemical reactor and bioreactor
Filtration and purification
Functions within the biogeochemical cycle
• HYDROLOGICAL FUNCTION AT THE PLOT AND BASIN SCALE
Water infiltration, storage and transfer
• FIXATION OF GREENHOUSE GASES
Atmospheric carbon sequestration in the form of organic matter in the soil
• BUFFERING OF CHANGES IN THE pH
• BIOLOGICAL HABITAT
The soil has great biodiversity (animals, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes). Biological cycles
• GENETIC RESERVE
DNA reserve in soil organisms
• SSUPPORT FOR HOUSING AND ALL HUMAN ACTIVITIES
Housing estates, communication networks, industrial activities and other infrastructures
• SOURCE OF PRIMARY MATERIALS
Gravel, sand, gypsum, limestone, clay, aluminium, iron ore, etc.
• PROTECTION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS
Testimony of past human activities
• OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
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