Pedosphere, global changes and environmental quality of soil

With development of modern geoscience, particularly of environmental sciences, the contemporary soil science is undergoing great changes in both research contents and scope. Soil is not only a certain substance or a certain independent natural historical body, but also a spheric layer with peculiar structure and functions in the earth system. From the viewpoint of the geo-biosphere system of the earth, soil science does not only deal with the soil substances per se, but also more importantly with the relationship between soil, the other spheres and the human survivorship environment in view of the pedosphere. This is the new orientation of soil science today and will affect profoundly the studies on the human survivorship environment and global changes. To throw more light on this subject, the present paper intends to address the conception of pedosphere and its role in global changes and environmental quality of soil. Also addressed are series of environmental issues in China and their relations to the global change. Moreover, research orientation and priorities are discussed in the field of pedosphere for agriculture and environment.