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Weeds are a fascinating study for specialists, not only because of their economic importance, but also since in this case biology must be combined with history and agriculture (and its economic aspects). Thus, weed scientists may be concerned with pure basic research, concentrating on general aspects, or with applied science, i.e. having a practical orientation. One of the aims of this book is to create a synthesis between these two branches of study and to review the literature of both fields. The agrestals, the weeds of arable land ~ the most important group from an economic point of view ~ was chasen as the main topic. Other weed groups could only be mentioned briefly (e.g. grassland weeds), or superficially (e.g. aquatic weeds), or had to be omitted completely (e.g. ruderals, because they are so heterogeneous), to keep this volume to an acceptable size and price. Nevertheless, nearly all subsections of botanical science have been treated.
This book introduces the concept of soil security and its five dimensions: Capability, Capital, Condition, Connectivity and Codification. These five dimensions make it possible to understand soil's role in delivering ecosystem services and to quantify soil resource by measuring, mapping, modeling and managing it. Each dimension refers to a specific aspect: contribution to global challenges (Capability), value of the soil (Capital), current state of the soil (Condition), how people are connected to the soil (Connectivity) and development of good policy (Codification). This book considers soil security as an integral part of meeting the ongoing challenge to maintain human health and secure our planet's sustainability. The concept of soil security helps to achieve the need to maintain and improve the world’s soil for the purpose of producing food, fiber and freshwater, and contributing to energy and climate sustainability. At the same time it helps to maintain biodiversity and protects ecosystem goods and services.