Rethinking Global Soil Degradation: Drivers, Impacts, and Solutions

作者：Nima Shokri, David A. Robinson, Marziyeh Abbass Zadeh Afshar, Christine Alewell, Milad Aminzadeh, Emmanuel Arthur, Nils Broothaerts, Grant L. Campbell, Lina Eklund, Surya Gupta, R.J. Harper, Amirhossein Hassani, Cathy Hohenegger, Thomas Keller, Maximilian Kiener, Inma Lebron, Kaveh Madani, Tshilidzi Marwala, Francis Matthews, Per Møldrup, Attila Nemes, Panos Panagos, Remus Prăvălie, Matthias C. Rillig, Philipp Saggau, Salomé M. S. Shokri‐Kuehni, Pete Smith, Amy Thomas, Lis Wollesen de Jonge, Dani Or · 发表于：Reviews of Geophysics · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1029/2025rg000883 · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Soil erosion and sediment transport、Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis、Soil and Land Suitability Analysis

Abstract The increasing threat of soil degradation presents significant challenges to soil health, especially within agroecosystems that are vital for food security, climate regulation, and economic stability. This growing concern arises from intricate interactions between land use practices and climatic conditions, which, if not addressed, could jeopardize sustainable development and environmental resilience. This review offers a comprehensive examination of soil degradation, including its definitions, global prevalence, underlying mechanisms, and methods of measurement. It underscores the connections between soil degradation and land use, with a focus on socio‐economic consequences. Current assessment methods frequently depend on insufficient data, concentrate on singular factors, and utilize arbitrary thresholds, potentially resulting in misclassification and misguided decisions. We analyze these shortcomings and investigate emerging methodologies that provide scalable and objective evaluations, offering a more accurate representation of soil vulnerability. Additionally, the review assesses both physical and biological indicators, as well as the potential of technologies such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics for enhanced monitoring and forecasting. Key factors driving soil degradation, including unsustainable agricultural practices, deforestation, industrial activities, and extreme climate events, are thoroughly examined. The review emphas...