Table Of ContentImproving soil health
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Related titles:
Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1: Fundamentals
Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-188-0) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-191-0; 978-1-78676-190-3)
Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 2: Monitoring and management
Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-192-7) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-195-8; 978-1-78676-194-1)
Advances in Conservation Agriculture Volume 1: Systems and Science
Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-264-1) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-266-5; 978-1-78676-267-2)
Advances in Conservation Agriculture Volume 2: Practice and Benefits
Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-268-9) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-270-2; 978-1-78676-271-9)
Achieving sustainable crop nutrition
Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-312-9) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-314-3; 978-1-78676-315-0)
Chapters are available individually from our online bookshop:
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BURLEIGH DODDS SERIES IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
NUMBER 109
Improving soil health
Edited by Professor William R. Horwath, University of
California-Davis, USA
Published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited
82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ, UK
www.bdspublishing.com
Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA 19102-3406, USA
First published 2023 by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 2023, except the following: Chapters 6 and 8 were prepared
by U. S. Department of Agriculture employees as part of their official duties and are therefore in the
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022934578
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-78676-670-0 (Print)
ISBN 978-1-78676-673-1 (PDF)
ISBN 978-1-78676-672-4 (ePub)
ISSN 2059-6936 (print)
ISSN 2059-6944 (online)
DOI 10.19103/AS.2021.0094
Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Dublin, Ireland
Contents
Series list xi
Acknowledgements xix
1 Soil health: towards a sustainable world 1
William R. Horwath, University of California-Davis, USA
1 Introduction 1
2 Early research on soil health 3
3 Soil health and soil carbon 6
4 Tillage and soil health 7
5 Soil health indicators in the field 8
6 The soil health debate continues 9
7 The soil health research agenda 10
8 Where to look for further information 11
9 References 12
Part 1 Dimensions of soil health
2 Soil health: definitions, history, key concepts and hurdles 19
Michelle M. Wander, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
1 Introduction 19
2 Evolving methodology 24
3 Soil health assessment 28
4 Conclusion 30
5 Where to look for further information 31
6 References 31
3 Understanding biological processes in soil 41
Regina O’Kelley and David D. Myrold, Oregon State University, USA
1 Introduction 41
2 Pre-2000 42
3 2000-Present day 43
4 Future trends in research 53
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
vi Contents
5 Conclusion 55
6 Where to look for further information 56
7 References 56
4 Mycorrhizae and soil health 65
Muhammad Adnan and Fazli Wahid, The University of Swabi,
Pakistan; Shah Fahad, The University of Haripur, Pakistan;
Muhammad Arif, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan;
Songmei Shi, Yunnan Agricultural University, China; and Xinhua He,
Southwest University, China, University of California-Davis, USA and
University of Western Australia, Australia
1 Introduction 65
2 Mycorrhizae and their role in soil health 66
3 Mycorrhizae and soil composition 67
4 Mycorrhizae and soil organic matter formation 68
5 Mycorrhizae, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration 69
6 Mycorrhizae, abiotic and biotic stress 70
7 Mycorrhizal interaction with other soil microorganisms 71
8 Conclusion and future trends 71
9 Where to look for further information 72
10 Acknowledgements 72
11 References 73
Part 2 Cultivation practices and soil health
5 Agricultural traffic management systems and soil health 87
Paula A. Misiewicz, Magdalena Kaczorowska-Dolowy, David R. White,
Edward Dickin and Richard J. Godwin, Harper Adams University, UK
1 Introduction 87
2 How agricultural traffic affects soil compaction 90
3 Measuring soil compaction and its effects 94
4 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: controlled traffic farming 98
5 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: low ground pressure tyre systems 101
6 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: tracks and gantry systems 101
7 Tillage practices and soil compaction 102
8 Case study 106
9 Conclusion 108
10 Where to look for further information 109
11 References 109
6 Assessing the effects of no-till cultivation practices on soil health 123
Alison Hamm and Daniel K. Manter, USDA-ARS, USA
1 Introduction 123
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
Contents vii
2 Soil physical properties 127
3 Soil chemical properties 129
4 Soil biological properties 131
5 Case studies 132
6 Future trends and conclusion 136
7 Where to look for further information 137
8 References 138
7 Cover crops for soil health 147
Sieglinde S. Snapp, Michigan State University, USA; Carmen
M. Ugarte, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA; Dane
W. Hunter, Southern Illinois University, USA; and Michelle M. Wander,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
1 Introduction 147
2 Where and why to grow cover crops 152
3 Cover crop regional assessment 158
4 Integration for soil health management by niche 171
5 Research gaps 176
6 Conclusion 178
7 Where to look for further information 180
8 References 180
8 Assessing the effects of crop residue retention on soil health 189
Hero T. Gollany, USDA-ARS, USA
1 Introduction 189
2 Crop residue and soil chemical properties 190
3 Crop residue and soil biological processes 198
4 Crop residue and related soil physical properties 201
5 Crop residue retention and future trends in soil health research 204
6 Conclusion 205
7 Where to look for further information 205
8 References 205
Part 3 The role of organic and other soil amendments
9 Assessing the effects of compost on soil health 221
Cristina Lazcano, University of California-Davis, USA;
Charlotte Decock, California Polytechnic State University, USA;
Connie T. F. Wong, University of California-Davis, USA; and
Kamille Garcia-Brucher, California Polytechnic State University, USA
1 Introduction 221
2 Why compost? 224
3 Effects of compost on soil nutrient cycling 227
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
viii Contents
4 Effects of compost on soil hydraulic properties 233
5 Effect of compost on crop productivity 235
6 Effects of compost on soil biodiversity 239
7 Effects of compost on environmental quality 243
8 The use of compost to improve soil health in annual crops: a case study
with strawberries 246
9 The use of compost to improve soil health, sequester carbon and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in perennial crops: a case study in a
Mediterranean vineyard 252
10 Conclusion 258
11 Where to look for further information 259
12 References 260
10 Assessing the effects of using animal manure on soil health 281
Ashraf M. Tubeileh, California Polytechnic State University, USA;
and Michael J. Goss, University of Guelph, Canada
1 Introduction 281
2 Types and forms of manure applied to soils 283
3 The nutrient value of manures 284
4 Manure treatments 289
5 Impact on soil chemical and physical health 291
6 Impact on soil biological health 293
7 Impact on plants and crop yields 294
8 Challenges to the concepts of soil health from manure application 295
9 Conclusions 298
10 Where to look for further information 298
11 References 299
11 Assessing the effect of biosolids on soil health 309
Fiona A. Nicholson, Anne Bhogal, Alison Rollett and John R. Williams,
ADAS, UK
1 Introduction 309
2 Effects on soil nutrient supply and fertility 310
3 Effects on soil organic matter and carbon sequestration 313
4 Effects on soil physical properties 314
5 Effects on soil biology 316
6 Potentially harmful effects on soil health 319
7 Other environmental effects 328
8 Conclusion and future trends 333
9 Where to look for further information 334
10 References 335
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
Contents ix
12 Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal
fungi on soil health 347
M. J. Salomon, The Waite Research Institute and The School of
Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia;
S. F. Bender, Agroscope, Switzerland; T. R. Cavagnaro, The Waite
Research Institute and The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine,
The University of Adelaide, Australia; and M. G. A. van der Heijden,
Agroscope and University of Zurich, Switzerland
1 Introduction 347
2 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil health: addressing the key issues 351
3 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilizer production 357
4 Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for soil health 359
5 Conclusion 364
6 Future trends in research 365
7 Where to look for further information 366
8 References 366
13 Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of plant growth-promoting
bacteria (PGPB) or rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soil and plant health 377
Elisa Zampieri, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy;
Iakovos S. Pantelides, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus; and
Raffaella Balestrini, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy
1 Introduction 377
2 M echanisms mediated by plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria 378
3 Tolerance to abiotic stresses 381
4 Beneficial effects against biotic stresses 383
5 Interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria and
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi 386
6 Conclusion and future trends in research 388
7 Acknowledgement 389
8 Where to look for further information 389
9 References 389
14 The role of liming in improving soil health 403
Richard C. Hayes, Jason R. Condon and Guangdi D. Li, New South
Wales Department of Primary Industries, Australia
1 Introduction 403
2 Soil health, soil acidity and liming 405
3 Soil acidity 409
4 Factors influencing changes in soil pH 413
5 Liming to ameliorate soil acidity 417
© Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.
