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

Author

Listed:
  • R. Michael Lehman

    (USDA-ARS North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, 2923 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006, USA)

  • Cynthia A. Cambardella

    (USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, 2110 University Blvd, Ames, IA 5001, USA)

  • Diane E. Stott

    (USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, 275 S. Russell St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA)

  • Veronica Acosta-Martinez

    (USDA-ARS Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Laboratory, 3810 4th Street, Lubbock, TX 79417, USA)

  • Daniel K. Manter

    (USDA-ARS Soil Plant Nutrient Research Unit, Natural Resources Research Center, 2150 Centre Ave., Bldg. D, Suite 100, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8119, USA)

  • Jeffrey S. Buyer

    (USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Room 124, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Bldg. 001, BARC-WEST, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA)

  • Jude E. Maul

    (USDA-ARS Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Room 124, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Bldg. 001, BARC-WEST, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA)

  • Jeffrey L. Smith

    (USDA-ARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research, 215 Johnson Hall, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
    This author is deceased.)

  • Harold P. Collins

    (USDA-ARS Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, Temple, TX 76502, USA)

  • Jonathan J. Halvorson

    (USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory, 1701 10th Ave. SW, PO Box 459, Mandan, ND 58554, USA)

  • Robert J. Kremer

    (USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Laboratory, 269 Agricultural Engineering Bldg., University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
    This author has retired.)

  • Jonathan G. Lundgren

    (USDA-ARS North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory, 2923 Medary Ave., Brookings, SD 57006, USA)

  • Tom F. Ducey

    (USDA-ARS Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research Center, 2611 W. Lucas St, Florence, SC 29501, USA)

  • Virginia L. Jin

    (USDA-ARS Agroecosystem Management Research Unit, 137 Kiem Hall, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA)

  • Douglas L. Karlen

    (USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, 2110 University Blvd, Ames, IA 5001, USA)

Abstract

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

Suggested Citation

  • R. Michael Lehman & Cynthia A. Cambardella & Diane E. Stott & Veronica Acosta-Martinez & Daniel K. Manter & Jeffrey S. Buyer & Jude E. Maul & Jeffrey L. Smith & Harold P. Collins & Jonathan J. Halvors, 2015. "Understanding and Enhancing Soil Biological Health: The Solution for Reversing Soil Degradation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-40, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:1:p:988-1027:d:44875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Lisa Lobry de Bruyn & Susan Andrews, 2016. "Are Australian and United States Farmers Using Soil Information for Soil Health Management?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-33, March.
    3. Dean C. Stronge & Bryan A. Stevenson & Garth R. Harmsworth & Robyn L. Kannemeyer, 2020. "A Well-Being Approach to Soil Health—Insights from Aotearoa New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-12, September.
    4. Jean L. Steiner & David D. Briske & David P. Brown & Caitlin M. Rottler, 2018. "Vulnerability of Southern Plains agriculture to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 201-218, January.
    5. Caroline Brock & Douglas Jackson-Smith & Steven Culman & Douglas Doohan & Catherine Herms, 2021. "Soil balancing within organic farming: negotiating meanings and boundaries in an alternative agricultural community of practice," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(2), pages 449-465, June.
    6. Carol Smith & Sadeepa Jayathunga & Pablo Gregorini & Fabiellen C. Pereira & Wendy McWilliam, 2022. "Using Soil Sustainability and Resilience Concepts to Support Future Land Management Practice: A Case Study of Mt Grand Station, Hāwea, New Zealand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Jarosław Grządziel & Karolina Furtak & Anna Gałązka, 2018. "Community-Level Physiological Profiles of Microorganisms from Different Types of Soil That Are Characteristic to Poland—A Long-Term Microplot Experiment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    8. Rui Zhao & Junying Li & Kening Wu & Long Kang, 2021. "Cultivated Land Use Zoning Based on Soil Function Evaluation from the Perspective of Black Soil Protection," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-29, June.
    9. Babacar Thioye & Marc Legras & Lisa Castel & François Hirissou & Naouel Chaftar & Isabelle Trinsoutrot-Gattin, 2021. "Understanding Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonization in Walnut Plantations: The Contribution of Cover Crops and Soil Microbial Communities," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Majid, Maliqa & Khan, Junaid N. & Ahmad Shah, Qazi Muneeb & Masoodi, Khalid Z. & Afroza, Baseerat & Parvaze, Saqib, 2021. "Evaluation of hydroponic systems for the cultivation of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. Longifolia) and comparison with protected soil-based cultivation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    11. Douglas L. Karlen & Charles W. Rice, 2015. "Soil Degradation: Will Humankind Ever Learn?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Anghinoni, Guilherme & Anghinoni, Fernanda Brunetta Godinho & Tormena, Cássio Antonio & Braccini, Alessandro Lucca & de Carvalho Mendes, Ieda & Zancanaro, Leandro & Lal, Rattan, 2021. "Conservation agriculture strengthen sustainability of Brazilian grain production and food security," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    13. Yingying Xing & Xiaoli Niu & Ning Wang & Wenting Jiang & Yaguang Gao & Xiukang Wang, 2020. "The Correlation between Soil Nutrient and Potato Quality in Loess Plateau of China Based on PLSR," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-17, February.

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