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Improving soil health It is widely recognised that agriculture is a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. Agriculture needs to reduce its environmental impact and adapt to current climate change whilst still feeding a growing population, i.e. become more ‘climate-smart’. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing is playing its part in achieving this by bringing together key research on making the production of the world’s most important crops and livestock products more sustainable. Based on extensive research, our publications specifically target the challenge of climate-smart agriculture. In this way we are using ‘smart publishing’ to help achieve climate-smart agriculture. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing is an independent and innovative publisher delivering high quality customer-focused agricultural science content in both print and online formats for the academic and research communities. Our aim is to build a foundation of knowledge on which researchers can build to meet the challenge of climate-smart agriculture. For more information about Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing simply call us on +44 (0) 1223 839365, email [email protected] or alternatively please visit our website at www.bdspublishing.com. Related titles: Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 1: Fundamentals Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-188-0) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-191-0; 978-1-78676-190-3) Managing soil health for sustainable agriculture Volume 2: Monitoring and management Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-192-7) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-195-8; 978-1-78676-194-1) Advances in Conservation Agriculture Volume 1: Systems and Science Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-264-1) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-266-5; 978-1-78676-267-2) Advances in Conservation Agriculture Volume 2: Practice and Benefits Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-268-9) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-270-2; 978-1-78676-271-9) Achieving sustainable crop nutrition Print (ISBN 978-1-78676-312-9) Online (ISBN 978-1-78676-314-3; 978-1-78676-315-0) Chapters are available individually from our online bookshop: https://shop.bdspublishing.com BURLEIGH DODDS SERIES IN AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE NUMBER 109 Improving soil health Edited by Professor William R. Horwath, University of California-Davis, USA Published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridge CB22 3HJ, UK www.bdspublishing.com Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 900, Philadelphia, PA 19102-3406, USA First published 2023 by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 2023, except the following: Chapters 6 and 8 were prepared by U. S. Department of Agriculture employees as part of their official duties and are therefore in the public domain. All rights reserved. This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission and sources are indicated. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information but the authors and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials. Neither the authors nor the publisher, nor anyone else associated with this publication shall be liable for any loss, damage or liability directly or indirectly caused or alleged to be caused by this book. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. The consent of Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited for such copying. Permissions may be sought directly from Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing at the above address. Alternatively, please email: [email protected] or telephone (+44) (0) 1223 839365. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the publisher for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of product liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Library of Congress Control Number: 2022934578 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 978-1-78676-670-0 (Print) ISBN 978-1-78676-673-1 (PDF) ISBN 978-1-78676-672-4 (ePub) ISSN 2059-6936 (print) ISSN 2059-6944 (online) DOI 10.19103/AS.2021.0094 Typeset by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Dublin, Ireland Contents Series list xi Acknowledgements xix 1 Soil health: towards a sustainable world 1 William R. Horwath, University of California-Davis, USA 1 Introduction 1 2 Early research on soil health 3 3 Soil health and soil carbon 6 4 Tillage and soil health 7 5 Soil health indicators in the field 8 6 The soil health debate continues 9 7 The soil health research agenda 10 8 Where to look for further information 11 9 References 12 Part 1 Dimensions of soil health 2 Soil health: definitions, history, key concepts and hurdles 19 Michelle M. Wander, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA 1 Introduction 19 2 Evolving methodology 24 3 Soil health assessment 28 4 Conclusion 30 5 Where to look for further information 31 6 References 31 3 Understanding biological processes in soil 41 Regina O’Kelley and David D. Myrold, Oregon State University, USA 1 Introduction 41 2 Pre-2000 42 3 2000-Present day 43 4 Future trends in research 53 © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. vi Contents 5 Conclusion 55 6 Where to look for further information 56 7 References 56 4 Mycorrhizae and soil health 65 Muhammad Adnan and Fazli Wahid, The University of Swabi, Pakistan; Shah Fahad, The University of Haripur, Pakistan; Muhammad Arif, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Pakistan; Songmei Shi, Yunnan Agricultural University, China; and Xinhua He, Southwest University, China, University of California-Davis, USA and University of Western Australia, Australia 1 Introduction 65 2 Mycorrhizae and their role in soil health 66 3 Mycorrhizae and soil composition 67 4 Mycorrhizae and soil organic matter formation 68 5 Mycorrhizae, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration 69 6 Mycorrhizae, abiotic and biotic stress 70 7 Mycorrhizal interaction with other soil microorganisms 71 8 Conclusion and future trends 71 9 Where to look for further information 72 10 Acknowledgements 72 11 References 73 Part 2 Cultivation practices and soil health 5 Agricultural traffic management systems and soil health 87 Paula A. Misiewicz, Magdalena Kaczorowska-Dolowy, David R. White, Edward Dickin and Richard J. Godwin, Harper Adams University, UK 1 Introduction 87 2 How agricultural traffic affects soil compaction 90 3 Measuring soil compaction and its effects 94 4 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: controlled traffic farming 98 5 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: low ground pressure tyre systems 101 6 Techniques to avoid soil compaction: tracks and gantry systems 101 7 Tillage practices and soil compaction 102 8 Case study 106 9 Conclusion 108 10 Where to look for further information 109 11 References 109 6 Assessing the effects of no-till cultivation practices on soil health 123 Alison Hamm and Daniel K. Manter, USDA-ARS, USA 1 Introduction 123 © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. Contents vii 2 Soil physical properties 127 3 Soil chemical properties 129 4 Soil biological properties 131 5 Case studies 132 6 Future trends and conclusion 136 7 Where to look for further information 137 8 References 138 7 Cover crops for soil health 147 Sieglinde S. Snapp, Michigan State University, USA; Carmen M. Ugarte, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA; Dane W. Hunter, Southern Illinois University, USA; and Michelle M. Wander, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA 1 Introduction 147 2 Where and why to grow cover crops 152 3 Cover crop regional assessment 158 4 Integration for soil health management by niche 171 5 Research gaps 176 6 Conclusion 178 7 Where to look for further information 180 8 References 180 8 Assessing the effects of crop residue retention on soil health 189 Hero T. Gollany, USDA-ARS, USA 1 Introduction 189 2 Crop residue and soil chemical properties 190 3 Crop residue and soil biological processes 198 4 Crop residue and related soil physical properties 201 5 Crop residue retention and future trends in soil health research 204 6 Conclusion 205 7 Where to look for further information 205 8 References 205 Part 3 The role of organic and other soil amendments 9 Assessing the effects of compost on soil health 221 Cristina Lazcano, University of California-Davis, USA; Charlotte Decock, California Polytechnic State University, USA; Connie T. F. Wong, University of California-Davis, USA; and Kamille Garcia-Brucher, California Polytechnic State University, USA 1 Introduction 221 2 Why compost? 224 3 Effects of compost on soil nutrient cycling 227 © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. viii Contents 4 Effects of compost on soil hydraulic properties 233 5 Effect of compost on crop productivity 235 6 Effects of compost on soil biodiversity 239 7 Effects of compost on environmental quality 243 8 The use of compost to improve soil health in annual crops: a case study with strawberries 246 9 The use of compost to improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in perennial crops: a case study in a Mediterranean vineyard 252 10 Conclusion 258 11 Where to look for further information 259 12 References 260 10 Assessing the effects of using animal manure on soil health 281 Ashraf M. Tubeileh, California Polytechnic State University, USA; and Michael J. Goss, University of Guelph, Canada 1 Introduction 281 2 Types and forms of manure applied to soils 283 3 The nutrient value of manures 284 4 Manure treatments 289 5 Impact on soil chemical and physical health 291 6 Impact on soil biological health 293 7 Impact on plants and crop yields 294 8 Challenges to the concepts of soil health from manure application 295 9 Conclusions 298 10 Where to look for further information 298 11 References 299 11 Assessing the effect of biosolids on soil health 309 Fiona A. Nicholson, Anne Bhogal, Alison Rollett and John R. Williams, ADAS, UK 1 Introduction 309 2 Effects on soil nutrient supply and fertility 310 3 Effects on soil organic matter and carbon sequestration 313 4 Effects on soil physical properties 314 5 Effects on soil biology 316 6 Potentially harmful effects on soil health 319 7 Other environmental effects 328 8 Conclusion and future trends 333 9 Where to look for further information 334 10 References 335 © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved. Contents ix 12 Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on soil health 347 M. J. Salomon, The Waite Research Institute and The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia; S. F. Bender, Agroscope, Switzerland; T. R. Cavagnaro, The Waite Research Institute and The School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Australia; and M. G. A. van der Heijden, Agroscope and University of Zurich, Switzerland 1 Introduction 347 2 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and soil health: addressing the key issues 351 3 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi biofertilizer production 357 4 Managing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for soil health 359 5 Conclusion 364 6 Future trends in research 365 7 Where to look for further information 366 8 References 366 13 Biofertilizers: assessing the effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) or rhizobacteria (PGPR) on soil and plant health 377 Elisa Zampieri, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy; Iakovos S. Pantelides, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus; and Raffaella Balestrini, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italy 1 Introduction 377 2 M echanisms mediated by plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria 378 3 Tolerance to abiotic stresses 381 4 Beneficial effects against biotic stresses 383 5 Interaction between plant growth-promoting bacteria/rhizobacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi 386 6 Conclusion and future trends in research 388 7 Acknowledgement 389 8 Where to look for further information 389 9 References 389 14 The role of liming in improving soil health 403 Richard C. Hayes, Jason R. Condon and Guangdi D. Li, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Australia 1 Introduction 403 2 Soil health, soil acidity and liming 405 3 Soil acidity 409 4 Factors influencing changes in soil pH 413 5 Liming to ameliorate soil acidity 417 © Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing Limited, 2023. All rights reserved.