Risk assessment of soil degradation processes in Hungary

摘要

Soils represent a considerable part of the natural resources in Hungary. Consequently, rational land use and soil management, to ensure normal soil functions, are important tasks of sustainable agricultural development, having significance in the national economy and in environmental protection. The large extension of various undesirable soil degradation processes, due to natural factors of human activities, as (1) soil erosion by water or wind; (2) soil acidification; (3) salinization and/or alkalization; (4) physical degradation (structure destruction, compaction); (5) extreme moisture regime: drought sensitivity and waterlogging hazard; (6) biological degradation; (7) unfavourable changes in the plant nutrient regime; (8) soil (and water) pollution are serious problems in the directly affected territories and in their surroundings. A quantitative soil degradation assessment system was elaborated in Hungary during the last two decades on the basis of all available soil information and experimental results, including the integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques. It was the basis for modelling and forecasting (,,early-warning") of soil degradation for their efficient prevention and control.