Soil quality change in the Maltese Islands a 10-year assessment (2003 to 2013)

Abstract

Soils constitute a significant non-renewable geo-resource. Soil resources produce various ecosystem goods and services, chief amongst which are food production and the recycling or assimilation of wastes and other by-products (Arrouays, Marchant, Saby, Meersmans, Orton & Martin, 2012; deGroot, Wilson and Boumans., 2002). Healthy soils are therefore the foundation of our food system and merit our attention (Bot & Benites, 2005). Over the past few decades, various anthropogenic factors have increased the pressures on soil systems and associated ecosystem services. Amongst these pressures is a growth in global population and standards of living as well as climate change. These factors have significantly increased the global demand for food and have led to a widespread process of land use intensification.