Soil Quality and its Relevance for Sustainable Agriculture

摘要

Agricultural sustainability depends to a large extent upon the maintenance or enhancement of soil health/quality. Soil quality is conceptualized as the major linkage between the strategies of conservation management practices and achievement of the major goals of sustainable agriculture (Acton and Gregorich 1995; Parr et al. 1992). It has been broadly defined as the capacity of a living soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health (Doran et al. 1996, 1998). The quality and health of soils not only determine agricultural sustainability but also the environmental quality (Pierzynski et al. 1994) and the plant, animal and human health (Haberern, 1992a). Thus, the land care and soil quality management assume great significance for ensuring agricultural sustainability which is inevitable to feed the burgeoning population, not only in India but across the world.