A key challenge in soil science is to enhance our ability to understand how soils perform multiple functions over time and space, and to identify ways to manage soils to better resist and recover from extreme events or adapt to changes in land-use. Over the last decades, advancements of in-depth knowledge of specific processes in soils, often driven by novel specialised methodologies, have delivered breakthroughs in our understanding of numerous soil processes and improved characterisation of soil properties, but at the same time these have promoted to a greater extent the study of singular processes and at singular spatial scales. This hampers translation of research into policy and practice for sustainable management, where often multiple functions of soils need to be considered.
In this session we welcome papers of studies that address how multiple functions of soils are interlinked at different spatial scales, and how these will respond to perturbations. In particular we welcome approaches that address novel ways to integrate spatial and temporal scales in soil functioning and processes, demonstrate how new tools can advance the study of soils as a multifunctional system, or analyse the range of soil processes in an integrated and holistic manner to inform changes in soil function. By bringing these studies together we seek to reflect on the great advances made in soils research over the past decades whilst promoting a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach in going forward to ensure we understand how to better secure soils in delivering the multiple ecosystem services upon which society depends.