Soil indicators

Defra is working with partners to develop indicators of soil quality and a future soil monitoring scheme.

This and subsequent pages include information on Defra's work on soil indicators as follows:

• Background
• Identification of national indicators of soil quality
• UK Soil Indicators Consortium
• Other work on soil quality indicators:
  • Organic matter
  • Biological indicators
  • Remote sensing

Background

There are several ongoing national and European initiatives raising the profile of soil protection and use. As a result we need to determine the state of our national soils and to develop methods to monitor future change.

The main initiatives are:

• EU thematic strategy for soil protection
• First Soil Action Plan for England: 2004-2006
• Defra's strategic priority: protecting natural resources
• Sustainable food and farming strategy.

There are a number of existing soil monitoring schemes designed to meet different objectives. We need to determine what should be monitored in future and the best way of achieving this.

Identification of national indicators of soil quality

The monitoring of soil quality is an activity of interest throughout Government Departments and Agencies in the UK.

In 2000, a wide ranging group of public stakeholders funded a project on the 'Identification and development of a set of national indicators for soil quality'. The project aimed to start developing indicators of physical, chemical and biological soil quality and the extent and diversity of soil. These would be used by all the partners in future soil monitoring.

The final report (Loveland et al) was published in 2002 and set out an initial list of 67 potential indicators:

• Identification and development of a set of national indicators for soil quality (P5A(00)01) (SP0512)

UK Soil Indicators Consortium

The above stakeholder group reconvened with additional members in 2003 to form the UK Soil Indicators Consortium.

The Consortium aims to:

• Identify indicators for a national soil monitoring scheme
• Develop a scheme meeting national and European requirements
• Suggest mechanisms for funding and undertaking monitoring.

Other work on soil quality indicators

Defra is also carrying out the following work in support of Action 11 of the First Soil Action Plan for England:

• Developing a headline indicator of soil quality - organic matter
• Developing biological indicators
• Investigating the use of remote sensing to monitor soil.