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Soil health: A role for arbuscular mycorrhizas
Lynette Abbott from The University of Western Australia, focuses on soil health again, this time examining the role of arbuscular mycorrhizas. Mycorrhizas are common associations between plants and highly specialised fungi that participate in important soil health processes, including nutrient uptake by plants. This can include nutrients from fertilisers, the breakdown of soil organic matter, and soil minerals. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form extensive networks of hyphae in soil that extend around roots and increase the soil volume that can be explored. In addition to nutrient scavenging, the hyphae contribute to maintaining a friable soil structure that benefits root growth and even helps plants access water in tiny soil pores when soil conditions are dry. Mycorrhizas may also contribute to protection against root disease.

The maintenance of healthy soil resources is instrumental to the success of an array of global efforts and initiatives. Whether they are working to combat food shortages, conserve our ecosystems, or mitigate the impact of climate change, researchers and agriculturalists the world over must be able to correctly examine and understand the complex nature of this essential resource. These new volumes have been designed to meet this need, addressing the many dimensions of soil health analysis in chapters that are concise, accessible and applicable to the tasks at hand. Soil Health, Volume Two: Laboratory Methods for Soil Health Analysis provides explanations of the best practices by which one may arrive at valuable, comparable data and incisive conclusions, and covers topics including: Sampling considerations and field evaluations. Assessment and interpretation of soil-test biological activity. Macro- and micronutrients in soil quality and health PLFA and EL-FAME indicators. Offering a practical guide to collecting and understanding soil health data, this volume will be of great interest to all those working in agriculture, private sector businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academic-, state-, and federal-research projects, as well as state and federal soil conservation, water quality and other environmental programs.--Provided by publisher.

The possibility of using microbiological indicators of soil «health» to assess the soils. Th e fundamental possibility of quantitative characterization of the functional potential of the microbial system with the assessment of «ecological services» is shown. Thermodynamic criteria of natural microbial system (exergy and specific exergy) allow to carry out diagnostics of soil condition with direct estimation of degradation and damage. System characteristics of soil microbiota allow to approach the solution of many topical problems of functional soil science.

World has been observing 5th December since 2012 as the World Soil Day to ensure maintenance of soil health, This was complimented by the United Nations' General Assembly declaring 2015, as the International Year of Soils to create awareness among all stakeholders and promote more sustainable use of soil being the critical resource. On this occasion, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon had said that without healthy soils life on Earth would be unsustainable. Indeed, soils are the foundation of agriculture. He had urged all Governments to pledge to do more to protect this important yet forgotten resource. A healthy life is not possible without healthy soils. According to the Director General of the FAO, Jose Graziano da Silva, today, world has more than 805 million people facing hunger and malnutrition. Soils are under increased pressure because population growth will require an approximately increase of 60 per cent in food output and competing land uses. Unfortunately, 33 per cent of our global soil resources are under degradation and human pressures on soils are reaching critical limits, reducing and sometimes eliminating essential soil functions. He had emphasised the role of all stakeholders in promoting the cause of soils as it is important for paving the road towards a real sustainable development for all and by all. Against this background, this article briefly highlights the significance and aspects of soil health management in India and suggests aspects of strategic action plan to conserve this precious resource for the benefit of mankind.

Front Cover -- Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List of Contributors -- Preface -- 1 Fundamentals and Functions of Soil Environment -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Soil Properties and Interrelationships -- 1.2.1 Soil Physical Environment -- 1.2.2 Components of the Total Soil-Water Potential -- 1.2.3 Water Movement and Governing Forces -- 1.2.4 Soil Structure and Water Pathways -- 1.2.5 Soil Temperature -- 1.2.6 Soil Aggregate Formation and Structure -- 1.3 Soil Biological Environment -- 1.3.1 Soil-Plant Relationship -- 1.3.2 Soil-Root Interface and Nutrient Cycling -- 1.3.2.1 Nitrogen cycle -- 1.3.2.2 Carbon Cycle -- 1.3.2.3 Water cycle -- 1.3.3 Soil Environment and Microbial Diversity -- 1.4 Soil Chemical Environment -- 1.4.1 Soil Nutrient Capacity and Supply -- 1.4.2 Nutrient Cycling -- 1.4.3 Nutrient Pathways and Mechanisms -- 1.5 Conclusions -- References -- 2 Climate Variability Effects on Agriculture Land Use and Soil Services -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Climate Variables and Temporal Trends -- 2.2.1 Temperature -- 2.2.2 Precipitation -- 2.2.3 Extreme Events in Precipitation -- 2.2.4 Meteorological Variables (Solar Radiation, Wind, Humidity) -- 2.3 Patterns of Agriculture Land Use -- 2.3.1 Crop Distribution and Agroclimatology -- 2.3.1.1 Temperature effects -- 2.3.1.2 Precipitation effects -- 2.3.2 Interaction Between Climate Change and Soil Productivity -- 2.4 Role of Soil Services in Mitigating Effects of Climate Variability -- 2.5 Implications of Soil Health to Offset Climate Variability -- 2.6 Conclusions -- References -- 3 Soil Health Concerns Facing Dryland Agroecosystems -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Soil Health in Dryland Agroecosystems -- 3.2.1 Difficulty of Enhancing Soil Health in Areas with Increasing Temperatures and Decreasing Precipitation

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Our Journey Continues -- An Ode to Brazilian Soil Health -- Foreword -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Soil Health and Modern Brazilian Agriculture -- Chapter Overview -- Introduction -- A Historical Overview of Brazilian Agriculture and Soil Management -- The Evolution Timeline for Brazilian Agriculture to Soil Health -- Future Trends of Soil Health in Brazilian Agriculture -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 2 Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry Systems for Improved Soil Health, Environmental Benefits, and Sustainable Production -- Chapter Overview -- Introduction -- Background, Conceptualization, and Combinations of Integrated Systems in Brazil -- SH as a Result of Complex Interactions in Integrated Systems -- SH in Integrated Systems: Effects on Nutrient Cycling and NUE -- Physical SH in Integrated Systems with "Soil‐Building Plants": Soil Aggregation and Water Holding Capacity -- SH in Integrated Systems: Soil Enzymes and Fauna Biodiversity -- SH in Integrated Systems: C Storage and GHG Mitigation -- SH Effects on Soybean Grain Yield and Animal Production and Welfare in Tropical ICLF Systems -- Final Considerations -- References -- Chapter 3 Soil Organic Carbon Restoration as the Key Driver to Promote Soil Health in No‐till Systems of the Tropics -- Chapter Overview -- Introduction -- Context -- C‐budget and Turnover Time Perspective -- Natural capital balance -- Carbon Balance in a Production System with High Carbon Input -- Context -- Soil Health Status at Farm and Field Levels -- Future studies -- References -- Chapter 4 Cover Crops and Soil Health in Brazilian Agricultural Systems -- Chapter Overview -- Introduction -- Main Cover Crops and Their Introduction into the Annual Cropping Systems in Brazil -- Main Cover Crop Species Cultivated in Brazil -- Spring/Summer Cover Crops.

Healthy soils produce healthy crops that in turn nourish people and animals. It is the foundation of the food system. Soil testing is a well recognized scientific method for quick characterization of the soil fertility status and prediction of crop nutrient requirement which are lost through improper use of fertilizers, continuous cropping, erosion, leaching, volatilization, denitrification and fixation. Soil Health Card (SHC) is a Government of Indias scheme which apart from giving the health index of soil & also indicates fertilizer recommendations and soil amendment required for the farm. Knowing the fertility status of soil before sowing of crop will lead to proper usage & dosage of appropriate fertilizer, thus maintaining the essential nutrients profile & OC status for optimal crop productivity.

Not Available ; Soil salinization is the third important chemical soil degradation. It develops because of relative preponderance of soluble and sparingly soluble salts of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Excess salts and nadequate soil-water movement and specific ions toxicities in these soils consequently impede ecosystem functions and limits crop performance. Rehabilitation of salt-affected soil (SAS) occupies a major focus in the current policies of the government in order to achieve land degradation neutrality and land restoration. These are relevant for Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDG 15-Life and Land) of United Nations. ; Not Available

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Soil Health: An Overview and Goals for These Volumes -- Synopsis of Two-Volume Book -- Introduction -- Why is Soil Health Important? -- Soil Health Indicators and Methods -- Need for Standardization -- Interpretation of Soil Health Information -- Utilizing Soil Health Assessments to Inform Soil Management Decisions -- Summary and Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 2 Evolution of the Soil Health Movement -- Introduction -- Pre-20th Century Soil Awareness -- From 1900 to 1970 -- From 1970 to 2000 - Soil Quality Emerges -- Concept Development -- Soil Quality Assessment -- 21st Century Developments in Soil Health -- References -- Chapter 3 The Utility and Futility of Soil Health Assessment -- Chapter Overview -- Introduction -- Definitions -- Comparison groups -- Scale -- Analytical Methods -- Degrees of Change -- Soil Health Limitations -- Conclusions -- References -- Chapter 4 Metadata: An Essential Component for Interpreting Soil Health Measurements -- Methods and Frequency -- Site Description -- Soil Characterization -- Experimental Descriptors -- Climate and Weather -- Management -- Sample Collection, Preparation, Storage, and Analysis -- Discussion -- Summary -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Chapter 5 Soil Health Assessment of Agricultural Lands -- Summary -- Overview of Assessments -- Assessment Frameworks -- Initial Soil Health Frameworks -- Soil Health Cards -- Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) -- AgroEcosystem Performance Assessment Tool (AEPAT) -- Rangeland and Forestland Assessment -- Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) -- Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) -- Land-Potential Knowledge System (LandPKS) -- Evolving Soil Health Assessment Activities -- References -- Chapter 6 Soil Health Assessment of Forest Soils -- Introduction.

A holistic approach to assessing soil health
In this Q&A, Dr Christine Sprunger, Assistant Professor of Soil Health in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences assesses the chemical, physical, and biological processes of performing soil health assessments. With her research focusing on the intersection of agriculture and the environment, Dr. Sprunger notes how soil health has gained heightened attention from both farmers and scientists because of its association with agronomic performance and environmental sustainability, evaluating soil respiration, active carbon, soil protein, beneficial free-living nematodes. Dr. Sprunger, in this interview, analyses the importance of soil health research, finding the link between soil health and ecosystem services, how climate change influences soil health, and the future of soil health research in a factsheet for farmers interested in soil assessment.