Soil health: looking for suitable indicators. What should be considered to assess the effects of use and management on soil health?

Scientia Agricola, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 70(4), P. 274 - 289

Published: July 31, 2013

Soil Health refers to the ecological equilibrium and functionality of a soil its capacity maintain well balanced ecosystem with high biodiversity above below surface, productivity. To understand use health as tool for sustainability, physical, chemical, biological properties must be employed verify which respond management within desired timescale. Attributes rapid response natural or anthropogenic actions are considered good indicators health. Among physical indicators, texture, aggregation, moisture, porosity, bulk density have been used, while among chemical total C N, mineral nutrients, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, others established. However, most them generally slow response, when compared ones, such microbial biomass biodiversity, enzymes, respiration, etc., in addition macro mesofauna. Thus, systemic approach based on different kinds (physical, biological) assessing would safer than using only one kind attribute. Many human activities caused desertification, loss disruption aggregates, matter others. Today, it is imperious productivity increasing emphasis reforestation recuperation degraded areas through amendments, reintroduction plants, fauna microorganisms. This review focused an integrative view used tools prediction sustainability production systems.

Language: Английский

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Management of crop water under drought: a review

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 35(2), P. 401 - 442

Published: Feb. 3, 2015

Drought is a predominant cause of low yields worldwide. There an urgent need for more water efficient cropping systems facing large consumption irrigated agriculture and high unproductive losses via runoff evaporation. Identification yield-limiting constraints in the plant–soil–atmosphere continuum are key to improved management plant stress. Crop ecology provides systematic approach this purpose integrating soil hydrology physiology into context crop production. We review main climate, properties processes that determine yield different water-limited environments. From analysis, measures under specific drought conditions derived. Major findings from literature analysis as follows. (1) Unproductive such evaporation increase continental in-season rainfall climates storage-dependent winter climates. Highest occur tropical residual moisture regimes with short intense rainy season. (2) Sites climatic dry season require adaptation phenology saving ensure stable yields. Intermittent droughts can be buffered root system, which still largely underutilised better stress resistance. (3) At short-term options mulching date seeding allow adjust site constraints. Adapted cultivars improve synchronisation between demand supply. long term, hydraulic physiological overcome by changing tillage breeding new varieties higher (4) Interactions soil, particularly rhizosphere, way towards Targeted plant–soil interactions at infancy. conclude understanding site-specific imperative select most mitigate progress future expected focussing on complex (root)–soil interactions.

Language: Английский

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Risks of large-scale use of systemic insecticides to ecosystem functioning and services

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 22(1), P. 119 - 134

Published: July 18, 2014

Large-scale use of the persistent and potent neonicotinoid fipronil insecticides has raised concerns about risks to ecosystem functions provided by a wide range species environments affected these insecticides. The concept services is widely used in decision making context valuing service potentials, benefits, values that well-functioning ecosystems provide humans biosphere and, as an endpoint (value be protected), ecological risk assessment chemicals. Neonicotinoid are frequently detected soil water also found air, dust particles during sowing crops aerosols spraying. These environmental media essential resources support biodiversity, but known threatened long-term or repeated contamination neonicotinoids fipronil. We review state knowledge regarding potential impacts on functioning terrestrial aquatic including freshwater functions, fisheries, biological pest control, pollination services. Empirical studies examining specific have focused largely negative beneficial insect (honeybees) impact food crops. However, here we document broader evidence effects regulating quality, pollination, resilience, community diversity. In particular, microbes, invertebrates, fish play critical roles decomposers, pollinators, consumers, predators, which collectively maintain healthy communities integrity. Several examples this demonstrate systemic decomposition, nutrient cycling, respiration, invertebrate populations valued humans. Invertebrates, particularly earthworms important for processes, wild domestic pollinators plant crop production, several taxa involved were all highly susceptible lethal sublethal and/or at environmentally relevant concentrations. By contrast, most microbes do not appear sensitive under normal exposure scenarios, though may certain realms such combined fish-rice farming systems through chain effects. highlight economic cultural around agriculture aquaculture production role threatening security. Overall, recommend improved sustainable agricultural practices restrict insecticide fundamentally depend on.

Language: Английский

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A plant economics spectrum of litter decomposability

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 56 - 65

Published: Sept. 29, 2011

Summary 1. Recent evidence indicates tight control of plant resource economics over interspecific trait variation amongst species, both within and across organs, referred to as ‘plant spectrum’ (PES). Whether how these coordinated whole‐plant strategies can influence the decomposition system thereby impact on ecosystem carbon nutrient cycling are yet an open question. More specifically, it is unknown whether functional traits have consistent afterlife effects different organs. 2. To answer those questions, we conducted a common‐garden experiment bringing together leaves, fine stems, coarse roots reproductive parts from wide range subarctic types, clades environments. We measured all for same (green litter) identified axis economics. 3. demonstrated that our local ‘PES’ has important turnover by driving rates organs species. All organ decomposabilities were consistently controlled structure‐related (lignin, C dry matter content) whilst nutrient‐related (N, P, pH, phenols) had more variable influence, likely due their contrasting functions Nevertheless, shifts in elevation parallel trait–decomposition relationships between indicate other variables, potentially related dimensions, configuration or chemical contents, codetermine litter rates. 4. Whilst species imply above‐ground below‐ground litters plant–soil feedbacks, suggest major role relative inputs driver soil properties biogeochemistry. These relationships, underpinning PES decomposability, will provide comprehensive input vegetation composition feedback turnover.

Language: Английский

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Influence of termites on ecosystem functioning. Ecosystem services provided by termites

European Journal of Soil Biology, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 47(4), P. 215 - 222

Published: June 20, 2011

Language: Английский

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Macroecological patterns in soil communities

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2010, Volume and Issue: 19(3), P. 287 - 302

Published: Feb. 8, 2010

ABSTRACT Aim To review published evidence regarding the factors that influence geographic variation in diversity of soil organisms at different spatial scales. Location Global. Methods A search relevant literature was conducted using Web Science and author's personal scientific database as major sources. Special attention paid to include seminal studies, highly cited papers and/or studies highlighting novel results. Results Despite their significant contribution global biodiversity, our taxonomic knowledge biota is still poor compared with most above‐ground organisms. This particularly evident for small‐bodied taxa. Global patterns biodiversity distribution have been poorly documented are thought differ significantly from what reported above‐ground. Based on existing data, it appears microorganisms do not respond large‐scale environmental gradients same way metazoans. Whereas microflora seem be mainly represented by cosmopolitan species, animals altitudinal, latitudinal or area described At local scales, there less regulate above‐ below‐ground communities way. Except a few taxa, humpbacked response stress disturbance doesn't apply underground. Soil thus appear weakly structured competition, although competitive constraints may account assembly rules within specific The main factor constraining compact heterogeneous nature soils, which provides unrivalled potential niche partitioning, allowing high levels biodiversity. heterogeneity increased impact ecosystem engineers generate resource patchiness range spatio‐temporal

Language: Английский

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Plant Functional Traits: Soil and Ecosystem Services

Trends in Plant Science, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 22(5), P. 385 - 394

Published: Feb. 14, 2017

Language: Английский

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Soil “Ecosystem” Services and Natural Capital: Critical Appraisal of Research on Uncertain Ground

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 4

Published: June 7, 2016

Over the last few years, considerable attention has been devoted in scientific literature and media to concept of "ecosystem" services soils. The monetary valuation these services, demanded by many governments international agencies, is often depicted as a necessary condition for preservation natural capital that soils represent. This focus on soil framed context general interest ecosystem allegedly started 1997, took off earnest after 2005. careful analysis proposed this article shows that, fact, multifunctionality emerged already mid-60s, at time when hundreds researchers worldwide were trying, largely failing, figure out how put price tags meaningfully "nature's services." Soil scientists, since, have tried better understand various functions/services soils, well their possible relation with key characteristics, like biodiversity. They also make progress challenging quantification functions/services. However, shown very little valuation, undoubtedly part because it not clear what economic financial markets might do prices functions/services, even if we could somehow come up such numbers, there no assurance all, based neoclassical theory, would manage resources optimally. Instead decision-making methods, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN), which require systematic monetization easily accommodate deliberative approaches involving variety stakeholders. A prerequisite public deliberations participants be cognizant extreme relevance aspects daily life. We argue long satisfied, combination methods sound approach promising avenue effectively ethically priceless heritage constitute.

Language: Английский

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Understanding and Enhancing Soil Biological Health: The Solution for Reversing Soil Degradation

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 988 - 1027

Published: Jan. 19, 2015

Our objective is to provide an optimistic strategy for reversing soil degradation by increasing public and private research efforts understand the role of biology, particularly microbiology, on health our world’s soils. We begin defining quality/soil (which we consider be interchangeable terms), characterizing healthy resources, relating significance agroecosystems their functions. examine how biology influences biological properties processes contribute sustainability agriculture ecosystem services. continue examining what can done manipulate to: (i) increase nutrient availability production high yielding, quality crops; (ii) protect crops from pests, pathogens, weeds; (iii) manage other factors limiting production, provision services, resilience stresses like droughts. Next look future asking needs known about that not currently recognized or fully understood these could addressed using emerging tools. conclude, based perceptions new knowledge regarding will help make more sustainable productive, recommending emphases should receive first priority through enhanced in order reverse trajectory toward global degradation.

Language: Английский

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Sugarcane straw availability, quality, recovery and energy use: A literature review

Biomass and Bioenergy, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 53, P. 11 - 19

Published: April 17, 2013

Language: Английский

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