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Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture

Author

Listed:
  • Monther M. Tahat

    (Department of Plant Protection, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Kholoud M. Alananbeh

    (Department of Plant Protection, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Yahia A. Othman

    (Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan)

  • Daniel I. Leskovar

    (Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Texas A&M University, Uvalde, TX 78801, USA)

Abstract

A healthy soil acts as a dynamic living system that delivers multiple ecosystem services, such as sustaining water quality and plant productivity, controlling soil nutrient recycling decomposition, and removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Soil health is closely associated with sustainable agriculture, because soil microorganism diversity and activity are the main components of soil health. Agricultural sustainability is defined as the ability of a crop production system to continuously produce food without environmental degradation. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), cyanobacteria, and beneficial nematodes enhance water use efficiency and nutrient availability to plants, phytohormones production, soil nutrient cycling, and plant resistance to environmental stresses. Farming practices have shown that organic farming and tillage improve soil health by increasing the abundance, diversity, and activity of microorganisms. Conservation tillage can potentially increase grower’s profitability by reducing inputs and labor costs as compared to conventional tillage while organic farming might add extra management costs due to high labor demands for weeding and pest control, and for fertilizer inputs (particularly N-based), which typically have less consistent uniformity and stability than synthetic fertilizers. This review will discuss the external factors controlling the abundance of rhizosphere microbiota and the impact of crop management practices on soil health and their role in sustainable crop production.

Suggested Citation

  • Monther M. Tahat & Kholoud M. Alananbeh & Yahia A. Othman & Daniel I. Leskovar, 2020. "Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-26, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:12:p:4859-:d:371429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    13. Kevin Muyang Tawie Sulok & Osumanu Haruna Ahmed & Choy Yuen Khew & Jarroop Augustine Mercer Zehnder & Mohamadu Boyie Jalloh & Adiza Alhassan Musah & Arifin Abdu, 2021. "Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Organic Amendments Produced from Selected Agro-Wastes with Potential for Sustaining Soil Health: A Laboratory Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-15, April.
    14. Cristian Adasme-Berríos & Rodrigo Valdes & Lisandro Roco & David Gómez & Emilia Carvajal & Camila Herrera & Joaquín Espinoza & Karla Rivera, 2022. "Segmentation of Consumer Preferences for Vegetables Produced in Areas Depressed by Drought," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, May.
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    17. Grontkowska, Anna & Gołębiewska, Barbara & Gębska, Monika, 2020. "The Concept Of Sustainable Agriculture Evaluated By Agricultural Producers Depending On Farm Inc," Roczniki (Annals), Polish Association of Agricultural Economists and Agribusiness - Stowarzyszenie Ekonomistow Rolnictwa e Agrobiznesu (SERiA), vol. 2020(4).
    18. Henny Pramoedyo & Atiek Iriany & Wigbertus Ngabu & Sativandi Riza, 2024. "Soil Particle Prediction using Spatial Ordinary Logistic Regression," Advances in Decision Sciences, Asia University, Taiwan, vol. 28(2), pages 66-92, June.

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