Principles of Soil Management - Principles of Sustainable Soil Management in Agroecosystems - page 1

1 Principles of Soil

Management

Rattan Lal

CONTENTS
1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Agronomic Yield Trends and Resource Use..................................................... 2
1.3 Yield Gap .......................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 Soil Quality Management ..................................................................... 7
1.4 Key Soil Parameters Important to Soil Sustainability ..................................... 8
1.4.1 Technological Options for Soil Sustainability ...................................... 9
1.5 Principles of Soil Management ....................................................................... 10
1.6 Laws of Sustainable Soil Management ........................................................... 11
1.6.1 Policy Makers ..................................................................................... 11
1.6.1.1 Causes of Soil Degradation and Desertification .................. 11
1.6.1.2 Human Needs and Stewardship of Natural Resources ........ 11
1.6.1.3 Poverty and Soil Degradation .............................................. 13
1.6.1.4 Soil Degradation Is a Cause of Global Warming ................ 13
1.6.1.5 Desertification Control and Mitigation of Climate Change ...13
1.6.2 Land Managers ................................................................................... 13
1.6.2.1 Nutrient Bank ....................................................................... 13
1.6.2.2 Organic and Inorganic Sources of Plant Nutrients .............. 14
1.6.2.3 Modern Issues and Ancient Technologies ........................... 14
1.6.2.4 Masters of Their Own Destiny ............................................ 14
1.6.2.5 Being Proactive .................................................................... 14
1.6.3 Researchers ......................................................................................... 14
1.6.3.1 Relative Importance of Natural Resources versus
Improved Germplasm .......................................................... 14
1.6.3.2 Indicators of Soil Quality Improvement .............................. 15
1.6.3.3 Training Cadre of Young Researchers ................................. 15
1.6.3.4 Building Bridges across Nations .......................................... 15
1.6.3.5 Lack of Technology Adoption.............................................. 15
1.7 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 15
Abbreviations ........................................................................................................... 16
References ................................................................................................................ 16

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