XII Congress of the Croatian Society of Soil Science Sustainable soil management for food and environment safety September 22 - 26, 2014 | Dubrovnik, Croatia

Abstract

Following the tradition of the Croatian Society of Soil Science the XII. Congress of the Croatian Society of Soil Science was held in September 22-26, 2014 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Congress was organized in conjunction with the International Union of Soil Science and European Confederation of Soil Science Societies as a Croatian congress with international participation. The General topic of congress was “Sustainable soil management for food and environment safety”, which included a variety of soil science aspects and offered an opportunity to discuss many issues that are now placed in front of the Soil Science. Because the soil is the foundation of every civilization, preventing soil degradation and permanent loss of soil are essential for its survival. Population growth in the world, global climate change, a daily reduction of available land resources and drinking water, and at the same time the need to increase the quantity and quality of food today are the greatest challenges for scientists and experts. Sustainable management of soil resources on a global basis, which includes Croatia, has the task to maintain and / or improve the productivity of the soil efficient use of inputs and to reduce losses in order to protect the soil and environment. It is therefore more than ever necessary to know the processes, practices and policies that are an integral part of sustainable land management. The objectives of XII Congress of the Croatian Society of Soil Science were to bring together leading scientists and experts, to share their experiences and research results and to discuss already adopted and revised new solutions on all aspects of sustainable land management for food security and protection of environment. Congress attracted a respectable number of scientists from the Croatia and from 12 other countries. They presented 66 oral and poster presentations focused on questions of the origin and classification of soils, soil fertility and plant nutrition, soil-plant interactions in the rhizosphere, microbiological and biochemical processes in the soil, and pollution and the protection of soil and water. XII Congress of the Croatian Society of Soil Science, through its research programs and exchange of experiences and research results, gave some answers that indicate the possible aspects of sustainable land management, food safety and environmental protection. Sincere thanks to all participants and organizers who made this Congress possible on behalf of both Organizing and Scientific committees I wish to express gratitude to the authors who have contributed by sending manuscripts and reviewers for the time and eff ort devoted to review manuscripts that are published in this special issue of Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus. Milan POLJAK Guest editor and Congress Chairma