Die Produktionskapazität der Böden der Erde. Globale Energiebilanz und Klimaschwankungen

The existing hunger in many developing countries forces us to reflect if, and to what extent the soils of our earth are capable of producing sufficient amounts of vegetable staple food. The most important soil geographic areas of the earth are analysed with regard to their yield potential for vegetable food resources. The tundra bears scarcely any importance for the production of cultivated plants. The soils of the cool till moderately warm moist climate have mostly turned into podzols; these are rather acidic and impoverished sites with a climate relatively unfavorable for plant growth. Adjacently to the south a soil region with moderately warm, humid climate will follow, which is favorable for plant growth. In this region are still largely unutilized reserves for crop production. The soils of the mediterranean climate are very dry during summer time, so that only such plant species can be taken under production, which can withstand the summer drought. Here the water holding capacity of the soils as well as the ground water table in the valleys are playing a decisive role. The soils of the long grass prairie (Brunizems) are quite fertile and especially qualified for corn production. The yield potential of the soils, situated in the short grass prairie is limited and curbed by the semihumid and semiarid climate respectively. In this region belong the exceptionally fertile Black Earth (Chernozem) Soils as well as the like­ wise fertile Chestnut Soils.