Abstract
Soil quality is an important consideration for the success of organic and other sustainable farming systems. Traditionally, soil quality has been assessed primarily on physical and chemical properties. These characteristics change slowly over time, and may poorly predict soil functions. Biological properties, which respond more rapidly to changes in management, may be more efficient and sensitive indicators with which to assess soil health, but are not widely considered. Worldwide, many countries and organisations consider biological, chemical and physical indicators when assessing soil health. For example when measuring potential impacts of heavy metals and pesticides on the soil biota. However, the approaches to use soil indicators to assess soil health vary widely even between regions within countries. The aim of this literature review is to examine international approaches to using biological, chemical and physical indicators to assess soil health in farming and related systems. This will include assessing approaches to dealing with biodiversity and function in relation to soil health, and soil health assessment in organic farming systems. The work will address the specific biological, chemical and physical measures considered, the rational behind the choice of parameters, the ways in which properties are measured, and strategies for interpretation and use of data gathered. International approaches to manage soil health, such as the use of inoculants and changes in management practice, will also be included. The specific objectives are: 1.Identify international structures in which actual or experimental biological, chemical or physical assessment of soil health in farming (including organic) or other relevant systems is conducted 2.Review the way in which the data gathered on biological, chemical or physical contributors to soil health in the systems identified have been interpreted and used. 3.Review international approaches to manage soil health 4.Compare the relative merits of international approaches to dealing with biological, chemical and physical contributors to soil health with current UK approaches based on function 5.Make recommendations to Defra for strategies to use biological, chemical and physical components to address the soil health concept in farming systems, including future research requirements
United Kingdom