Summary
This 1992 review paper conceptualises soil quality as a multidimensional attribute integrating chemical, physical and biological soil properties that determine the soil's capacity to produce healthy crops and support environmental and human health. The authors argue that soil quality assessment has historically overemphasised chemical and physical indicators whilst neglecting biological and ecological properties, and call for development of standardised biological indicators and monitoring programmes to support sustainable agriculture research and practice.
Regional applicability
Although the paper's authorship and journal context suggest United States origins, the conceptual framework for soil quality and sustainable agriculture has become foundational to soil health and regenerative farming policy and research globally, including within the United Kingdom. The call for integrated biological monitoring remains relevant to current UK soil health initiatives and agronomic policy.
Key measures
Soil chemical properties (fertility, nutrient content), physical properties (compactability, erodibility, aggregate stability, bulk density, infiltration, aeration), biological properties (species diversity, genetic diversity of soil microorganisms), and derived soil quality indicators (infiltration rate, macropore size, aggregate stability, organic matter content, erosion rate, nutrient runoff)
Outcomes reported
The paper defines soil quality as an integrative measure of chemical, physical and biological soil properties, and discusses how soil quality relates to crop productivity, environmental quality, human and animal health, and food safety. It identifies key indicators of improved soil quality and emphasises the need for better characterisation of biological and ecological soil indicators.
Topic tags
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