Understanding and measuring the different dimensions of soil health is key to achieving regenerative agriculture. There has been a wealth of research on developing better analytical techniques to measure the biological, physical and chemical properties of soils. Advances in measuring soil health reviews these developments and their implications for better management of farm soils. The volume begins by reviewing advances in measuring soil biological activity such as earthworms and fungi as indicators of soil health. The collection also surveys developments in measuring soil physical properties through advances in visual, imaging and geophysical techniques, as well as the methods used to measure chemical properties such as soil organic carbon. It concludes by looking at how measurement can be translated into farming practice through soil health indicators and decision support systems. With its distinguished editor and expert authors, Advances in measuring soil health will be a standard reference for university and other researchers in soil and crop science, government and other agencies responsible for the health of agricultural soils, companies providing soil monitoring services, and farmers wishing to know more about the latest developments in soil monitoring.

In this invaluable book, leading agronomic researchers provide in-depth reviews of present conservation tillage practices in a wide variety of temperate agroecosystems. Each chapter characterizes how conservation tillage has been developed and adapted or modified to fit specific environments, with the chapters divided into the following climate regions: Cool Humid, Cool Humid to Warm Humid, Warm Humid, and Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid Continental. Each chapter also discusses important topics such as weed problems, crop rotation, fertilizer requirements, soil properties and processes, soil erosion, soil chemistry, soil physics, and environmental issues. A perfect working reference, this resource provides a synthesis of existing research and practices and shows how soil, climatic, and biological constraints can be overcome or circumvented.

In this invaluable book, leading agronomic researchers provide in-depth reviews of present conservation tillage practices in a wide variety of temperate agroecosystems. Each chapter characterizes how conservation tillage has been developed and adapted or modified to fit specific environments, with the chapters divided into the following climate regions: Cool Humid, Cool Humid to Warm Humid, Warm Humid, and Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid Continental. Each chapter also discusses important topics such as weed problems, crop rotation, fertilizer requirements, soil properties and processes, soil erosion, soil chemistry, soil physics, and environmental issues. A perfect working reference, this resource provides a synthesis of existing research and practices and shows how soil, climatic, and biological constraints can be overcome or circumvented.

The functioning of soils and their ability to supply nutrients, store water, release greenhouse gases, modify pollutants, resist physical degradation and produce crops within a sustainable managment system is profoundly influenced by their organic matter content. This volume contains papers from an international conference held by the British Society of Soil Science in Edinburgh in September 1999. It explores the results of recent research studies examining how organic matter functions in soils, factors affecting organic matter quality and quantity, and how management of organic matter can be optimized in order to achieve sustainable farming practices.

Visual Soil Evaluation provides land users and environmental authorities with the tools to assess soil quality for crop performance. An important tool for ensuring food security, this book appraises the use of visual soil evaluation in determining the potential of different land types for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching. Providing a guide to diagnosing and rectifying soil problems, it includes: - Full colour illustrations throughout to show variation of soil quality and aid evaluation - A broad range of land types, from abandoned peats to prime arable land - Assessment of soil structure after quality degradation such as compaction, erosion or organic matter loss Essential reading for students, researchers and scientists interested in soil science and crop production, this book is also a valuable tool for policy makers and environmental authorities. A useful handbook assessing yield potential across a range of scales, it places visual soil evaluation in the context of the future sustainable intensification of agriculture.

Visual Soil Evaluation provides land users and environmental authorities with the tools to assess soil quality for crop performance. An important tool for ensuring food security, this book appraises the use of visual soil evaluation in determining the potential of different land types for carbon storage, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient leaching. Providing a guide to diagnosing and rectifying soil problems, it includes: - Full colour illustrations throughout to show variation of soil quality and aid evaluation - A broad range of land types, from abandoned peats to prime arable land - Assessment of soil structure after quality degradation such as compaction, erosion or organic matter loss Essential reading for students, researchers and scientists interested in soil science and crop production, this book is also a valuable tool for policy makers and environmental authorities. A useful handbook assessing yield potential across a range of scales, it places visual soil evaluation in the context of the future sustainable intensification of agriculture.