21世纪土壤科学的主要任务及挑战

Soil science major tasks and challenges for the 21^(st) century

结合已有的相关工作,对21世纪土壤科学面临的主要任务及挑战进行了论述,同时对有关的问题阐述了见解。重点从生态环境与生物学角度阐述土壤学与生物学、分子生物学的交叉与融合,将是土壤科学发展的必然趋势。分子生物学是生命科学中发展最为迅速的分支学科,必将影响土壤学发展的趋势。自然科学、社会科学与人文科学在生态科学领域中走向了融合与交叉。分子生物学的理论与技术正全面地渗透到生态科学中,将出现分子生态学的长足进展,即在基因表达与调控水平上探讨群体及生态系统的功能机制,并进一步利用生物技术手段,有目的地改良环境,从而使人类有一个可以持续健康发展的协调生存空间。土壤学面临了多种挑战与机遇,除了在微观与宏观2个层次上继续拓展外,更加注重尺度转换与实践应用问题以及同其他学科的交叉,尤其生物学,这也正是推动土壤科学发展的动力所在。无疑,生物因素将是多学科交叉与融合的生长点,是解决目前人类面临重大难题的根本性措施的源泉。

This paper gives a simple and systematic listing of the major tasks and challenges for soil science in the 21^(st) century based on work already done, and sets forth opinions on related problems. Soil science will play a bigger role in providing solutions to the intense disharmony between population, resources, the environment, and development. In the 21^(st) century, major patterns in soil science include the overlapping of different disciplines, and the extreme divergence of research scales (global and macro-level to molecular level). Molecular (biology) is the fastest developing discipline of the life sciences, which will influence pedology development. (Areas) of the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities have come together and been integrated in (ecological) science. Increasing evidence shows that biological factors will provide the fundamental measures for (solving) the current grave problems facing human beings on the earth. In brief, gene expression and control is the main basis for intentionally improving the environment, through which man can assure sustainable healthy development in a harmonious living space.