Thematic focus

Soil under pressure

10.06.2025

KB Coordination Unit Climate, Soil, Biodiversity

AK Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture WO Institute of Forest Ecosystems

Germany's soils are under pressure: they are burdened by drought and high nitrogen inputs, increasing compaction, and the loss of humus. The condition of Germany's soils is regularly analysed at the Thünen Institute. Our current thematic focus highlights the findings, insights and recommendations for action.

Three different floor profiles next to each other. — Profiles

Whether in fields, forests or peatlands: nothing works without the soil. It supplies plants with important nutrients and stores water and carbon. Its condition has an impact on agricultural yields, biodiversity, and groundwater quality.

But Germany's soils are coming under increasing pressure. Heavy machinery, loss of humus, drought and high nutrient inputs from the air and from fertilisers are taking their toll. The consequences: soils are becoming acidic, compacted and eroded. Their ability to filter and store water is also decreasing.

How Germany´s soils are changing, which consequences result from the prolonged stress on the soils – and how we can protect them – is being researched by the Thünen Institute across several specialised institutes. This dossier summarises the current results and offers recommendations for action.

Interview

The soil is thirsty

The Thünen Institute not only monitors the development of forests and oceans over long periods of time, but also of agricultural and forest soils. The third National Soil Inventory (BZE) is currently underway on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). At the halfway point, and following a very dry spring, we spoke to the people responsible for the BZE Agriculture, Dr. Christopher Poeplau of the Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, and the BZE Forest, Dr. Nicole Wellbrock of the Thünen Institute of Forest Ecosystems, about the condition of ...

Dossier

Protecting soils through sustainable management

Soils are the foundation of agriculture and forestry - and at the same time their most important factor of production. In ecosystems, soils serve as important filters and storages for water and nutrients. Farmers have a responsibility to preserve the soil through their farming practices. good agricultural practice sets out corresponding principles in the Federal Soil Protection Act.

Expertise

Fact check

Can CO₂ Certificates for Humus contribute to Climate Protection?

Humus is an important CO₂ store. CO₂ certificates are intended to create an incentive for agriculture to use the potential of humus build-up for climate protection. To be credible, these certificates must meet strict criteria. However, most do not. Learn more in our fact check.

Thünen explains

The subsoil – deeply rooted in dry times

Increasing drought is threatening harvests, even in our latitudes. Where will plants get water to grow and thrive in the future? From the subsoil, for example. Unused water and nutrient reserves lie dormant there. But plants can't access them. Thünen explains shows how we can give plants access to water reserves and help protect the climate at the same time.

Podcasts

Episode 18: All hands to the pump

Intact peatlands are efficient carbon reservoirs and therefore true climate protectors. If they are drained for agriculture and forestry, immense quantities of greenhouse gases escape into the atmosphere. Can paludiculture offer an alternative in the area of conflict between agriculture and climate policy?

Episode 20: The soil hangs onto the tree

Without forest soil, there is no forest. It provides trees with water, vital nutrients, and stability. However, nitrogen inputs and climate change are putting pressure on forest soils. In order to preserve it, we need long-term approaches that consider both the entire ecosystem and its utilisation.

Monitoring

Agricultural Soil Inventory (BZE-LW)

The organic matter content in soil is a key prerequisit for high productive soils. The amount and quality of soil organic carbon in soil is driven by climate, site and land-use.

BBZE- Forest

Development of a method to estimate the condition of forest soil properties by a sampling based survey and by regionalisation.

Projects

SOILAssist

BonaRes (A): SOILAssist - Sustainable protection and improvement of soil functions with intelligent land management strategies – a practical on the fly assistance system for farmers

Soil water dynamics of forestry used skid trails - identification and prognosis of critical conditions

Forest soils under pressure: In addition to the influences of progressive climate change, humans have an impact on the forest ecosystem and its soil during mechanized timber harvest. How can soil damage caused by wheeling be minimized through weather-adapted use of skid trails?