Introduction to the special issue on experiences with the development and application of a new simulation model predicting the dynamics of agro-physical soil state for selection of management practices to prevent soil erosion (SIDASS project)

The papers in this special issue present results of the European Union (EU) integrated research project about experiences with the development and application of a new simulation model predicting the dynamics of agro-physical soil state for selection of management practices to prevent soil erosion (SIDASS project). The results and the conclusions of the concerted actions about “Experiences with the impact of subsoil compaction on soil crop growth and environment and ways to prevent subsoil compaction” were the basis for the development of the SIDASS model and its application in order to analyse, quantify and to document the regional distribution of soil strength and soil erosion processes by wind and water and to define soil quality as a measure for sustainable agriculture. The outcome of the EU project “subsoil compaction” stated that arable soils undergo an increasing threat of further subsoil compaction, which has to be quantified. Measures must be developed to determine and to reduce the effect of soil compaction on soil erosion, too. The definition of soil structure and the processes on the various scales to determine the gas and water fluxes through structured soils were used as reference functions to quantify the various aspects. The analysis of the scale dependent processes on soil deformation and also its consequences on soil erosion at a given site as well as the development of prediction maps on a European scale down to a farm scale underline the necessity to counteract the still increasing subsoil compaction and the consequences for increased and irreversible soil erosion.