Statistical Terms Glossary

A soil conditioner is organic material such as humus or compost that facilitates the passage of water through soil and the distribution of fertilizer material and also provides a better medium for the growth of soil bacteria

Soil conservation is the protection of soil from erosion and other types of deterioration, so as to maintain soil fertility and productivity. It generally includes watershed management and water use

Sustainable practices to prevent and reverse the degradation of soil through appropriate land use and management practices.

Refers to vegetation, including crops, and crop residues on the surface of the soil.

Decline in soil quality caused by natural processes or, more commonly, improper use by humans.

The percentage of water in the soil (by weight). It is normally taken as the water amount in the soil between wilting point and field capacity.; Moisture contained in the portion of the soil which is above the water table, including water vapour, which is present in the soil pores.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is defined as all organic materials found in soils irrespective of origin or state of decomposition. It can be divided into three general pools: living biomass of micro-organisms, fresh and partially decomposed residues, and the well-decomposed and highly stable organic material, or humus.

It refers to the presence of a chemical or substance out of place and/or present at higher than normal concentration that has adverse effects on non-target organisms.

Encompasses two distinct, but related parts: inherent quality, the innate properties of soils such as those that lead to soil formation; and dynamic quality, covering the main degradation processes (physical, chemical and biological) and farm management practices.

Soil found on agricultural land as well as that found elsewhere within the national territory.

The soil surface nitrogen balance indicator measures the difference between the nitrogen available to an agricultural system (inputs, mainly from livestock manure and chemical fertilisers) and the uptake of nitrogen by agriculture (outputs, largely crops and forage). A persistent surplus indicates potential environmental pollution, while a persistent deficit indicates potential agricultural sustainability problems.

Measures the ability of water to move within soil, in an attempt to measure soil water content.

Solar radiation exploited for hot water production and electricity generation by:
- flat plate collectors, mainly of the thermosyphon type, for domestic hot water or for the seasonal heating of swimming pools;
- photovoltaic cells;
- solar thermal-electric plants.

The total electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun.

Solid fuels derived from biomass.

Biomass is defined as any plant matter used directly as fuel or converted into other forms before combustion. Included are wood, vegetal waste (including wood waste and crops used for energy production), animal materials/wastes, sulphite lyes, also known as “black liquor” (an alkaline spent liquor from the digesters in the production of sulphate or soda pulp during the manufacture of paper where the energy content derives from the lignin removed from the wood pulp) and other solid biomass.

Solid waste is useless and sometimes hazardous material with low liquid content. Solid wastes include municipal garbage, industrial and commercial waste, sewage sludge, wastes resulting from agricultural and animal husbandry operations and other connected activities, demolition wastes and mining residues

Solid waste disposal is the ultimate disposition or placement of refuse that is not salvaged or recycled

The classification of housing units by type of solid waste disposal is according to the following guidelines:
1. Solid waste collected on a regular basis by authorized collectors.
2. Solid waste collected on an irregular basis by authorized collectors.
3. Solid waste collected by self-appointed collectors.
4. Occupants dispose of solid waste in a local dump supervised by authorities.
5. Occupants dispose of solid waste in a local dump not supervised by authorities.
6. Occupants burn solid waste.
7. Occupants bury solid waste.
8. Occupants dispose solid waste into river, sea, creek, pond.
9. Occupants compost solid waste.
10. Other arrangement.

Solid waste management refers to the supervised handling of waste material from generation at the source through the recovery processes to disposal

Excrement (with or without litter) of domestic animals, possibly including a small amount of urine.

A range of values and attitudes that accord a male child status over a female child. Thus, the female child is disadvantaged in the quality and quantity of parental care and investment in her development. It may lead to acute discrimination, especially in situations where resources are limited. While neglect is the rule, in some cases son preference may lead to selective abortion or female infanticide.