World Soil Day

The Water Exploitation Index Plus (WEI+) provides a clear picture of Europe’s water stress, measuring how much water countries extract compared to available resources. The 20 Most Affected European Countries:Groundwater Shortage Across Europe. Countries like Cyprus, Malta, and Romania experience acute groundwater shortages. High sealing rates in rapidly urbanizing regions compound these issues.

Hear from #GSP partners as they share efforts, expertise and innovative ideas on soil conservation, restoration & sustainable management. Register now ! GSP Plenary Assembly Twelfth Session - Soil Partners'day WEBCAST VACS | WEBCAST LDD THAILAND | WEBCAST ETHIOPIA ROOM AM | WEBCAST ETHIOPIA ROOM PM The Soil Partners' Day is a unique opportunity for all GSP Members and partners to share their efforts, expertise, experiences and innovative ideas related to the conservation, restoration, and protection of soil and its sustainable management. 3 June The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) – The US, Department of State, Office of Global Food Security Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) The journey to success: from dirt to living soil - LDD Thailand . The journey of the ​ Global Soil Partnership ​- Lifeng Li​ Director, Land and Water Division, FAO​ 4 June Soil Health monitoring MRV Systems related to Soil Health, in the context of Agroecology - Internat...

  Soil pH (acidity and alkalinity) gives an important indication of plant nutrient availability, and different crops thrive at different pH values. Soil pHmay change in response to management activities such as liming, fertilizeraddition, irrigation that leads to salt accumulation, and some forms of soil pollution. Soil pH may be measured in the field with simple indicators, or with standard laboratory measurements. It is relatively cheap, quick, and easy to determine. Amending a low (acidic) pH can lead to greatly improved crop yields.

  A sustainably managed soil has rapid water infiltration, optimal soil water storage of plant available water and efficient drainage when saturated. However, when these conditions are not met, waterlogging and water scarcity problems arise. On the one hand waterlogging, which is related to the saturation of soil with water, creates rooting problems for many plants, thereby reducing yields, and can cause contaminants such as arsenic and methylmercury to become mobile in the soil. On the other hand, water scarcity occurring in areas where water is lost by evaporation, surface runoff and percolation, can cause crop failure. • In humid areas where precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration, additional drainage systems are needed to provide aeration for root functions like nutrient uptake. This is a concern especially in fine-textured soils which have high water retention capacity. • Surface and sub-surface drainage systems should be installed and maintained to control rising groundwater...