Soil Science Society of America Journal · 1961 · 251 citations · 0 references
EngineeringLand UseLand DegradationFlux GradientsSocial SciencesSoil PropertyState Factor EquationsEcosystem EcologyLandscape ProcessesBiogeochemistryEcosystem InteractionArtificial BoundariesSoil PhysicLandscape EcologyEcosystem StructureEcosystem FunctioningSoil ModelingOutside PotentialsEnvironmental Interactions
An ecosystem is a bounded landscape where changes in properties are viewed as net fluxes of matter and energy, driven by gradients whose potentials correspond to environmental soil‑forming factors such as climate and biota. The rewritten pedogenic functions provide psychological and typographical advantages.
Abstract The ecosystem is a piece of landscape having artificial boundaries. Changes in ecosystem properties are viewed as gains minus losses or influxes minus outfluxes of matter and energy. The fluxes are expressed as products of gradients and permeation. The outside potentials of the flux gradients are identified with the environmental soil‐forming factors, particularly climate and biotic factor. Pedogenic functions as now rewritten offer psychological and typographical advantages.