The covering of the soil surface with materials like concrete and stone, as a result of new buildings, roads, parking places, but also other public and private space.

Increase in water-soluble salts in soil which is responsible for increasing the osmotic pressure of the soil. In turn, this negatively affects plant growth because less water is made available to plants.

All current positive or negative properties with regard to soil utilization and soil functions.

Physical or reactive geochemical and biological processes which may attenuate, concentrate, immobilize, liberate, degrade or otherwise transform substances in soil.

Process of soil contamination by chemicals (fertilizers, petroleum products, pesticides, herbicides, mining) which has affected agricultural productivity and other ecosystem services negatively.

Matter consisting of plant and/or animal organic materials, and the conversion products of those materials in soils (ISO, 2013).

A summarizing parameter including all of the carbon forms for dissolved (DOC: Dissolved Organic Carbon) and total organic compounds (TOC: Total Organic Carbon) in soils.

The continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain biological productivity, promote the quality of air and water environments, and maintain plant, animal and human health.

The process of rock weathering though which soil is formed.

The quality of a soil that enables it to provide compounds in adequate amounts and proper balance to promote growth of plants when other factors (such as light, moisture, temperature and soil structure) are favourable.