PurposeSince application of ecological soil evaluation is not widely introduced in planning processes, a need for harmonisation of soil evaluation methods and spatial planning is evident. Conflicts are caused by the discrepancy between a holistic and site-specific approach of soil evaluation and the demand of spatial planners for easy-to-handle planner-oriented evaluation methods. Planners require less differentiation of pedological aspects but a detailed consideration of land use aspects. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the evolution of the concept of soil function and the development of the understanding of the soil functionality with time, respectively. This is reflected before the background of its applicability for spatial planning. Restrictions and deficits are highlighted, and strategies for further research work are sketched. The relation of soil functions and soil evaluation is examined exemplarily with algorithms of the TUSEC method applied for typical but fictive planning situations.Main featuresAn introduction comprising the early history of soil evaluation and the widening of the view on soil functionality with time is given. Since 1978, the restriction on the function of soil to biomass productivity was overcome, and today, a set of ecological functions ensuring a sustainable land use is introduced. This process is reflected here by drawing a time order of definitions of soil functions, whereas the function of soil as carbon stock and genetic pool are the most recently accepted ones. In addition, functions of special meaning for the environmental quality in urban areas are highlighted. The multi-functionality of soil is reflected as a basic principle of the modern understanding of soils. It is explained here that the complexity of the concept of multi-functionality of soils does not fit directly to the administrative sight on the belongings of soil protection. Therefore, the chapters in this paper dealing with principle aspects of soil functions are followed by passages focusing on the application of soil functions, its practice, problems and perspectives.Results and discussionStrategies for future adaptations of soil evaluation to the requirements of spatial planning are discussed. Thus, strategies to summarise soil functions are sketched, and a reasonable land use specified soil evaluation is proposed.ConclusionsSpatial planning needs a method for soil evaluation allowing a multi-level approach and some simplifications to meet the goals of rational land-use planning. Further work on this topic is strongly necessary to make efforts in soil protection and to support sustainable land use or, if anything, to bring sustainability into effect.
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