IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i15p9300-d875173.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Review of Farmland Soil Health Assessment Methods: Current Status and a Novel Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Zakir Hussain

    (Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China)

  • Limei Deng

    (Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China)

  • Xuan Wang

    (Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China)

  • Rongyang Cui

    (Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China)

  • Gangcai Liu

    (Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Conservancy, Chengdu 610041, China)

Abstract

Healthy soils are vital for food production as 95% of global food production directly or indirectly depends on soils. To ensure the food security of the burgeoning world population, it is necessary to evaluate soil health (SH) with a potential soil health index (SHI). Although there are several reputable methods for SH assessment at present, the connotations of and evaluation methods for SH are still unclear and such indexes are targeted at specific stakeholders or problems. In this study, we reviewed the fundamental steps in current attempts to develop SHIs, SH assessment methods and proposed a unified SHI based on the priorities of stakeholders. The proposed approach was designed as “three sets of dual index systems”, including the soil function (i), nutrition (j), and output (k) index systems, as well as the current (C) and expected (E) values of the respective index systems. The indicators included in index-i, index-j, and index-k reflect the soil regulatory functions, nutrient status, and quality and quantity of the output, respectively. The E values are used as a reference for the C values, and the health status is obtained, by using the ratio (R) of C to E for the respective index systems and their degree of deviation from “1” (R-1). For any evaluated soil, the farther the number of attributes and their ratios deviate from “1”, the unhealthier it is. This approach can provide a unified and comprehensive SH assessment method by diagnosing the most significant, healthy as well as unhealthy indicators. This method can be applied easily, not only by scholars but also by farmers and land managers.

Suggested Citation

  • Zakir Hussain & Limei Deng & Xuan Wang & Rongyang Cui & Gangcai Liu, 2022. "A Review of Farmland Soil Health Assessment Methods: Current Status and a Novel Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9300-:d:875173
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9300/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/15/9300/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fuqiang Dai & Zhiqiang Lv & Gangcai Liu, 2018. "Assessing Soil Quality for Sustainable Cropland Management Based on Factor Analysis and Fuzzy Sets: A Case Study in the Lhasa River Valley, Tibetan Plateau," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana & Sang Soo Lee & Nabeel Khan Niazi & Young-Han Lee & Kye Hoon Kim & Jeong-Hun Park & Deok Hyun Moon & Yong Sik Ok, 2017. "Assessment of Soil Health in Urban Agriculture: Soil Enzymes and Microbial Properties," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Maurício R Cherubin & Douglas L Karlen & Carlos E P Cerri & André L C Franco & Cássio A Tormena & Christian A Davies & Carlos C Cerri, 2016. "Soil Quality Indexing Strategies for Evaluating Sugarcane Expansion in Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-26, March.
    4. Atanu Mukherjee & Rattan Lal, 2014. "Comparison of Soil Quality Index Using Three Methods," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Eanes, Francis R. & Singh, Ajay S. & Bulla, Brian R. & Ranjan, Pranay & Fales, Mary & Wickerham, Benjamin & Doran, Patrick J. & Prokopy, Linda S., 2019. "Crop advisers as conservation intermediaries: Perceptions and policy implications for relying on nontraditional partners to increase U.S. farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation practices," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 360-370.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. José Manuel Mirás-Avalos & Pedro Marco & Sergio Sánchez & Beatriz Bielsa & María José Rubio Cabetas & Vicente González, 2022. "Soil Quality Index of Young and Differently Managed Almond Orchards under Mediterranean Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Xigui Li & Qing Wu & Yujie Liu, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Changes of Cultivated Land System Health Based on PSR-VOR Model—A Case Study of the Two Lake Plains, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-28, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Laís Coutinho Zayas Jimenez & Hermano Melo Queiroz & Maurício Roberto Cherubin & Tiago Osório Ferreira, 2022. "Applying the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) to Assess Mangrove Soil Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Turetta, Ana Paula Dias & Kuyper, Thomas & Malheiros, Tadeu Fabrício & Coutinho, Heitor Luiz da Costa, 2017. "A framework proposal for sustainability assessment of sugarcane in Brazil," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 597-603.
    3. Maurício Roberto Cherubin & João Luís Nunes Carvalho & Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri & Luiz Augusto Horta Nogueira & Glaucia Mendes Souza & Heitor Cantarella, 2021. "Land Use and Management Effects on Sustainable Sugarcane-Derived Bioenergy," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Mohamed K. Abdel-Fattah & Elsayed Said Mohamed & Enas M. Wagdi & Sahar A. Shahin & Ali A. Aldosari & Rosa Lasaponara & Manal A. Alnaimy, 2021. "Quantitative Evaluation of Soil Quality Using Principal Component Analysis: The Case Study of El-Fayoum Depression Egypt," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Gourlay, Sydney & Kilic, Talip & Lobell, David B., 2019. "A new spin on an old debate: Errors in farmer-reported production and their implications for inverse scale - Productivity relationship in Uganda," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    6. Salman A. H. Selmy & Salah H. Abd Al-Aziz & Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta & Francisco Jesús García-Navarro & Mohamed E. Fadl, 2021. "Soil Quality Assessment Using Multivariate Approaches: A Case Study of the Dakhla Oasis Arid Lands," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-22, October.
    7. Collins-Sowah, Peron A. & Henning, Christian H. C. A., 2019. "Risk management and its implications on household incomes," Working Papers of Agricultural Policy WP2019-05, University of Kiel, Department of Agricultural Economics, Chair of Agricultural Policy.
    8. Maurício R Cherubin & Douglas L Karlen & Carlos E P Cerri & André L C Franco & Cássio A Tormena & Christian A Davies & Carlos C Cerri, 2016. "Soil Quality Indexing Strategies for Evaluating Sugarcane Expansion in Brazil," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-26, March.
    9. Faridi, Amir Ali & Kavoosi-Kalashami, Mohammad & Bilali, Hamid El, 2020. "Attitude components affecting adoption of soil and water conservation measures by paddy farmers in Rasht County, Northern Iran," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Tian, Guangli & Qiu, Husen & Wang, Yuting & Zhou, Xinguo & Li, Dongwei, 2022. "Short-term legacy effects of rice season irrigation and fertilization on the soil bacterial community of the subsequent wheat season in a rice-wheat rotation system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    11. Arenas-Calle, Laura N. & Ramirez-Villegas, Julian & Whitfield, Stephen & Challinor, Andrew J., 2021. "Design of a Soil-based Climate-Smartness Index (SCSI) using the trend and variability of yields and soil organic carbon," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    12. Ajay S. Singh & Francis Eanes & Linda S. Prokopy, 2020. "Climate change uncertainty among American farmers: an examination of multi-dimensional uncertainty and attitudes towards agricultural adaptation to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1047-1064, October.
    13. Xiaopeng Shi & Xin Song & Guibin Zhao & Qifeng Yang & Lynette K. Abbott & Fengmin Li, 2022. "Manure Application Is the Key to Improving Soil Quality of New Terraces," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Silva-Olaya, Adriana M. & Ortíz-Morea, Fausto A. & España-Cetina, Gina P. & Olaya-Montes, Andrés & Grados, Daniel & Gasparatos, Alexandros & Cherubin, Mauricio Roberto, 2022. "Composite index for soil-related ecosystem services assessment: Insights from rainforest-pasture transitions in the Colombian Amazon," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    15. Mostafa A. Abdellatif & Ahmed A. El Baroudy & Muhammad Arshad & Esawy K. Mahmoud & Ahmed M. Saleh & Farahat S. Moghanm & Kamal H. Shaltout & Ebrahem M. Eid & Mohamed S. Shokr, 2021. "A GIS-Based Approach for the Quantitative Assessment of Soil Quality and Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-24, December.
    16. Oliveira, Dener M.S. & Cherubin, Maurício R. & Franco, André L.C. & Santos, Augusto S. & Gelain, Jaquelini G. & Dias, Naissa M.S. & Diniz, Tatiana R. & Almeida, Alexandre N. & Feigl, Brigitte J. & Dav, 2019. "Is the expansion of sugarcane over pasturelands a sustainable strategy for Brazil's bioenergy industry?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 346-355.
    17. Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri & Carlos Clemente Cerri & Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia & Maurício Roberto Cherubin & Brigitte Josefine Feigl & Rattan Lal, 2018. "Reducing Amazon Deforestation through Agricultural Intensification in the Cerrado for Advancing Food Security and Mitigating Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Hanbyul Lee & Seung-Yoon Oh & Young Min Lee & Yeongseon Jang & Seokyoon Jang & Changmu Kim & Young Woon Lim & Jae-Jin Kim, 2020. "Successional Variation in the Soil Microbial Community in Odaesan National Park, Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, June.
    19. Mao, Hui & Zhou, Li & Ying, RuiYao & Pan, Dan, 2021. "Time Preferences and green agricultural technology adoption: Field evidence from rice farmers in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    20. Oliveira, Ingrid Nehmi de & de Souza, Zigomar Menezes & Lovera, Lenon Henrique & Farhate, Camila Viana Vieira & Lima, Elizeu de Souza & Esteban, Diego Alexander Aguilera & Totti, Maria Cecilia Vieira, 2020. "Capacitance probe calibration for an Ultisol Udult cultivated with sugarcane by soil tillages," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:15:p:9300-:d:875173. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.