Ramez A. Mahjoory, Michigan State University, Institute of International Agriculture, mahjoor5@msu.edu, rmahjoory@aol.com

Mohammed Ali Hajabbasi, Isfahan University of Technology, Soil Science Department, Isfahan, Iran. Hajabbas@cc.iut.ac.ir

Abstract

Arid soils cover 1/3 of global surface with potential productivity of meeting needs of more than two billion people while serving as sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2, are being degraded by adverse natural and anthropogenic activities, misused due to inadequate public literacy and in-sufficient scientific evaluations.

These soils that include Latterites of African Savannas; Xeralfs, Xererts of Mediterranean Basin, Ortents, Orthids of Iranian eco-regions are uniquely different in their roles for utilizing the land where desertification predominates. Therefore, the concept of “ soils are the same” is not justified.

Studies of sustainable development and food security projects on randomly selected sites, assessment of land degradation by powerful computers and satellite imagery, without soil taxonomy standards in arid regions are to a greater extend, data producing but, counter productive.

Expansion of educational programs, utilizing pedological standards coupled with remote sensing technology on an applicable scale may provide opportunities for: A. Land users, to diversify agro-eco systems, B. Food security and environmental programs to establish project sites on representative soils, C. Soil scientists to extrapolate results of their studies to promote national productivity and regional economy. Otherwise, the arid region nations would inevitably pursue a self-destructive cause of fueling their economies by consuming their capital and degrading their most valuable natural resources.

Coping with these and tsunami of others should rely on our good conscience and exercise of professional responsibilities in a way, hunger shall last no longer.