Improving soil health

Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Series list
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Soil health: towards a sustainable world
1 Introduction
2 Early research on soil health
3 Soil health and soil carbon
4 Tillage and soil health
5 Soil health indicators in the field
6 The soil health debate continues
7 The soil health research agenda
8 Where to look for further information
9 References
Part 1: Dimensions of soil health
Chapter 2
Soil health: definitions, history, key concepts and hurdles
1 Introduction
2 Evolving methodology
3 Soil health assessment
4 Conclusion
5 Where to look for further information
6 References
Chapter 3
Understanding biological processes in soil
1 Introduction
2 Pre-2000
3 2000-Present day
4 Future trends in research
5 Conclusion
6 Where to look for further information
7 References
Chapter 4
Mycorrhizae and soil health
1 Introduction
2 Mycorrhizae and their role in soil health
3 Mycorrhizae and soil composition
4 Mycorrhizae and soil organic matter formation
5 Mycorrhizae, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration
6 Mycorrhizae, abiotic and biotic stress
7 Mycorrhizal interaction with other soil microorganisms
8 Conclusion and future trends
9 Where to look for further information
10 Acknowledgements
11 References
Part 2: Cultivation practices and soil health
Chapter 5
Agricultural traffic management systems and soil health
1 Introduction
2 How agricultural traffic affects soil compaction
3 Measuring soil compaction and its effects
4 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: controlled traffic farming
5 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: low ground pressure tyre systems
6 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: tracks and gantry systems
7 Tillage practices and soil compaction
8 Case study
9 Conclusion
10 Where to look for further information
11 References
Chapter 6
Assessing the effects of no-till cultivation practices on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Soil physical properties
3 Soil chemical properties
4 Soil biological properties
5 Case studies
6 Future trends and conclusion
7 Where to look for further information
8 References
Chapter 7
Cover crops for soil health
1 Introduction
2 Where and why to grow cover crops
3 Cover crop regional assessment
4 Integration for soil health management by niche
5 Research gaps
6 Conclusion
7 Where to look for further information
8 References
Chapter 8
Assessing the effects of crop residue retention on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Crop residue and soil chemical properties
3 Crop residue and soil biological processes
4 Crop residue and related soil physical properties
5 Crop residue retention and future trends in soil health research
6 Conclusion
7 Where to look for further information
8 References
Part 3: The role of organic and other soil amendments
Chapter 9
Assessing the effects of compost on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Why compost?
3 Effects of compost on soil nutrient cycling
4 Effects of compost on soil hydraulic properties
5 Effect of compost on crop productivity
6 Effects of compost on soil biodiversity
7 Effects of compost on environmental quality
8 The use of compost to improve soil health in annual crops: a case study with strawberries
9 The use of compost to improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in perennial crops: a case stu
10 Conclusion
11 Where to look for further information
12 References
Chapter 10
Assessing the effects of using animal manure on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Types and forms of manure applied to soils
3 The nutrient value of manures
4 Manure treatments
5 Impact on soil chemical and physical health
6 Impact on soil biological health
7 Impact on plants and crop yields
8 Challenges to the concepts of soil health from manure application
9 Conclusion
10 Where to look for further information
11 References
Chapter 11
Assessing the effect of biosolids on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Effects on soil nutrient supply and fertility
3 Effects on soil organic matter and carbon sequestration
4 Effects on soil physical properties
5 Effects on soil biology
6 Potentially harmful effects on soil health
7 Other environmental effects
8 Conclusion and future trends
9 Where to look for further information
10 References
Chapter 12
Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil health
1 Introduction
2 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil health: addressing the key issues
3 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilizer production
4 Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for soil health
5 Conclusion
6 Future trends in research
7 Where to look for further information
8 References
Chapter 13
Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) or rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soil and plant health
1 Introduction
2 Mechanisms mediated by plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria
3 Tolerance to abiotic stresses
4 Beneficial effects against biotic stresses
5 Interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria/ rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
6 Conclusion and future trends in research
7 Acknowledgement
8 Where to look for further information
9 References
Chapter 14
The role of liming in improving soil health
1 Introduction
2 Soil health, soil acidity and liming
3 Soil acidity
4 Factors influencing changes in soil pH
5 Liming to ameliorate soil acidity
6 Liming alkaline soils
7 Case study: the Australian experience
8 Conclusion
9 Where to look for further information
10 References
Index
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