How does soil biota matter in soil management in Europe? Exploring temporal dynamics and situation dependence in valuation processes

Abstract

The concept of values has been extensively used as a proxy to investigate relationships between human-beings and their environment. Using a pragmatic epistemology, we investigated valuation processes at stake when farmers choose their management practices, focusing on soil biota valuations. We sought to determine to what extant values are situation-dependent and likely to evolve over time. We used five Focus Groups, in France, Germany, Romania, Spain and Sweden, where farmers described soil management situations and evaluated the outcomes of their practices. Soil management practices were reasoned according to local and current situations and not chosen ‘by principle’. Soils were mentioned in the assessment of practices outcomes rather than as a criterion for practices choices. Values appeared dynamic, influenced by social consensus on good practices and farming objectives. Implementing a new practice might develop knowledge that is further integrated in valuations, thereby reforming the references upon which farmers evaluate their practices. Overall, debating on what matters in agriculture in different regions before defining management measures or soil indicators might be necessary to design a sustainable European policy on soils.

Keywords

• pragmatism
• soil biota values
• soil management practices
• agricultural soils
• european farmers
• focus groups