Glossary

Based on the cadastral plan (on which all properties in a municipality are marked), all areas are assigned a dedication in the zoning plan.

“Used land” refers to areas that have been directly and permanently changed by humans for construction, transport, leisure, other purposes through construction or through mining areas and have lost their biological productivity.

Succulents are plants with a high-water storage capacity. Because of this trait, the plants are well adapted to drier climates. One of the best-known succulents are cacti.

The term describes the grouping of particles of a certain grain size. There is no internationally valid definition. In German-speaking countries, for example, there are the fraction groups fine soil, fine skeleton and coarse skeleton, which in turn are subdivided into main fractions (e.g., clay, silt, sand, gravel).

The goal of green manure is to improve the soil. Certain plants are left in the field or planted for this purpose and then incorporated into the surface of the soil or used for mulching. This improves soil life, builds up humus, protects the soil from erosion, improves the supply of nitrogen to the following

Acids are substances that cause a pH value of less than 7 in an aqueous solution. The pH of bases is between 7 and 14. Acids and bases usually react with one another in what is known as an acid-base reaction and can neutralise one another.

The term “soil beings / creatures” (Edaphon) is used to refer to all the organisms living in the soil.

Originally, a “pergola” was a sun protection standing on columns or pillars, which adorned the path from the house to the terrace. Today, these canopies are placed in all possible variants in different places as sun protection. They are usually overgrown with climbing plants.

Expanded clay is ground clay that is fired in a kiln at 1,200 degrees Celsius. During combustion, the material expands spherically to four to five times its original volume.

Microorganisms, also called microbes, are microscopic creatures that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These include, for example, bacteria, microalgae and many fungi.

Red lists provide information about the endangerment status, the endangerment factors and the measures to protect the species in certain regions.

Under the influence of hydrocarbons and oxygen, nitrogen can be converted into photo-oxidants with the help of solar radiation. These include ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and nitric acid. All of these contribute to air pollution.

Atmospheric deposition means the deposition of atmospheric air admixtures on natural and artificial surfaces.