Technogenic Soils of Poland, 357 s.

Abstract

In recent years, urban soils have been extensively researched. The growing interest in the related issues contributes to better understanding of the soil cover diversity in the cities, identification of changes and threats resulting from urbanization and industrialisation. This book presents the state of the art of knowledge about diverse technogenic soils in Poland. It includes many examples of urban soil studies conducted in miscellaneous Polish scientific centres. The presented issues concern not only morphology and properties of technogenic soils, but also their genesis, functioning in the environment, classification and reclamation. For the purpose of accurate terminology, this book distinguishes between intentional human activity in agricultural areas, aiming at increasing the soil productivity, which leads to the development of Anthrosols, and in most cases, unintentional human activity related to life, industrial production or transport. The latter results in profound transformations of the soil cover in urban areas and formation of different technogenic soils. This term was used to describe soils of urban areas because not all of them meet the criteria defined by WRB for Technosols. The process of their development was defined as technogenesis, and all human activities related to construction, industry, transportation, mining and military, a³ecting (both intentionally and unintentionally) the formation of technogenic soils, were defined as technopressure. The editors hope that this monograph will provide new information on technogenic soils and will contribute to improvement of classification of this group of soils, and will further influence the growth of urban soil science.