Initial Publication Date: January 13, 2021

Soils and Society

Chapter Summary

Soil has been influential in almost all aspects of society since the dawning of time. From the houses that we live in, to the food that we eat, to the clothes that we wear. A majority of aspects of our culture and history are tied to the very earth below our feet. From the very best cultural aspects, like art and literature, masterful cuisines and beverages, and medicine, to the very worst in warfare and pollution. Just as the soil has touched our lives, we as humans have also played a profound role on the soils themselves, and by extension, all of the ecosystem services that they provide. These include providing food and filtering water, providing a medium for engineering, providing a recycling system for organic wastes and nutrients, and providing support for plants and climate regulation. This chapter introduces several case studies and examples of humans being inspired by and conversely negatively impacted by the stewardship practices of the land around them.

Educator Background

The previous chapters of this book focused primarily on the scientific depth and richness associated with the top few meters of the earth. This chapter focuses on the historical relationship humans have had with the soil, from a different perspective – that of soil's importance to our society's survival. This chapter focuses on how soils have impacted humans, and how mismanagement of the soil can damage the very humans that require it to live.

Humans have had an intimate relationship with soil. Our very destiny and expressions are tied into the biosphere. This relationship with soils extends to the primitive era before agricultural cultivation even existed. Soil and climate have shaped the very plants and animals that exist in a region, which in turn determines the cultural practices that humanity develops. The art, food, and cultural celebrations that we hold dear to our hearts are historically and deeply enmeshed with the soil itself. Even though soils are intensely important for humans and their cultural development, they also can be easily damaged and overlooked. When the soil becomes damaged or polluted, human culture and development often slows or stops altogether.

Soil's impact on human cultural development

Soil, especially clay soils, has had a pivotal role in art and culture since Neolithic times. From the actual creation of artistic pieces (like clay pots, sands, and minerals for glass, ores for metalwork), to using pigments to create colors for paints, dyes, and inks. There are several artists who use soils as the main subjects of paintings, usually done with deep symbolism. Additionally, there are some paintings that actually use the colors found in raw soils to create deep, beautiful pieces. There are also literally thousands of paintings of agricultural scenes, that owe their bounty to the health of the soil. Soil is also important in literature and music, especially that which was written during the Great Depression era, where the mismanaged soil, paired with drought, caused extreme dust events which became known as black blizzards and traveled across the country as far as Washington D.C. The terrain and soils have also played a critical role in warfare and battles and have an impact on human health.

Societies can either thrive or struggle based on the soil health

Societies throughout history have often had to balance caring for the soil and environment with a growing economical presence and growing populations. These growing populations place more pressure on the soils. Over time, if nutrients aren't replaced, soils will become depleted. In the name of development, people also remove trees and crops, creating areas that can be eroded. When these soils erode, the nutrients needed to grow crops are also stripped away.

Additionally, the eroded soils often silt up waterways and irrigation canals and cause the surrounding soil to become saturated with water or "waterlogged." In drier environments, where irrigation is used to support agriculture, repeated waterloggings can lead to salinization issues, further destroying a crop's ability to grow. Changing and manipulating natural environments create these types of negative feedback loops, resulting in growing deserts. The second part of the chapter focuses on the issues caused by soil mismanagement: a historic example, a current example, and an example opportunity of how to potentially counteract some of this damage in an increasingly globalized society.

Additional information can be found at the following links:
Waterlogging in Australia
Soil and Art
Soil and Literature
Soil and Warfare