Soil quality

Soil quality refers to the condition of soil based on its capacity to perform ecosystem services that meet the needs of human and non-human life.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling, and providing support for plants and other structures. Soil management has a major impact on soil quality.

Soil quality relates to soil functions. Unlike water or air, for which established standards have been set, soil quality is difficult to define or quantify.

^ Johnson, D. L.; Ambrose, S. H.; Bassett, T. J.; Bowen, M. L.; Crummey, D. E.; Isaacson, J. S.; Johnson, D. N.; Lamb, P.; Saul, M.; Winter-Nelson, A. E. (1997). "Meanings of Environmental Terms". Journal of Environmental Quality. 26 (3): 581. doi:10.2134/jeq1997.00472425002600030002x.
^ Karlen, D. L.; Mausbach, M. J.; Doran, J. W.; Cline, R. G.; Harris, R. F.; Schuman, G. E. (1997). "Soil Quality: A Concept, Definition, and Framework for Evaluation (A Guest Editorial)". Soil Science Society of America Journal. 61 (1): 4–10. Bibcode:1997SSASJ..61....4K. doi:10.2136/sssaj1997.03615995006100010001x. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ USDA NRCS. "Soil Quality: Basics: Definitions". soilquality.org. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ Tóth, G., Stolbovoy, V. and Montanarella, 2007. "Soil Quality and Sustainability Evaluation - An integrated approach to support soil-related policies of the European Union Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine", EUR 22721 EN. 40 pp. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-05250-7.

[1] Johnson, D. L.; Ambrose, S. H.; Bassett, T. J.; Bowen, M. L.; Crummey, D. E.; Isaacson, J. S.; Johnson, D. N.; Lamb, P.; Saul, M.; Winter-Nelson, A. E. (1997). "Meanings of Environmental Terms". Journal of Environmental Quality. 26 (3): 581. doi:10.2134/jeq1997.00472425002600030002x.

[Karlen1997-2] Karlen, D. L.; Mausbach, M. J.; Doran, J. W.; Cline, R. G.; Harris, R. F.; Schuman, G. E. (1997). "Soil Quality: A Concept, Definition, and Framework for Evaluation (A Guest Editorial)". Soil Science Society of America Journal. 61 (1): 4–10. Bibcode:1997SSASJ..61....4K. doi:10.2136/sssaj1997.03615995006100010001x. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

[NRCS2017-3] USDA NRCS. "Soil Quality: Basics: Definitions". soilquality.org. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

[test-4] Tóth, G., Stolbovoy, V. and Montanarella, 2007. "Soil Quality and Sustainability Evaluation - An integrated approach to support soil-related policies of the European Union Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine", EUR 22721 EN. 40 pp. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg. ISBN 978-92-79-05250-7.

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