Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology

Soils are of utmost importance for sustainable development. The diversity of formation conditions, the differences in distribution and properties as well as their multiple functions within ecosystems make soils unique research objects. Without healthy and productive soils food supply would be insufficient and clean water would not exist. Soil is a limited and vulnerable resource and it requires special protection, which soil science provides the principles for.

Compared to terrestrial biomass and to the atmosphere, soils contain twice as much carbon dioxide. Due to their great storage capacity of CO₂ soils play a key role in climate protection. This knowledge and various global changes and challenges have led to a profound change in the importance of the soil within the environmental sciences. The classic soil science has evolved from a supporting discipline within agriculture and forest sciences to a systems science of crucial importance within the modern environmental sciences. This systemic character of the soil sciences requires an inter- and transdisciplinary research approach as well as a strong internationalization.