"Land degradation is one of the most serious concerns of the 21st century, and the extent of the degraded land is more than 33% of the global land. If the degradation of land continues at the same rate, more than 90% of the global land will be degraded by 2050. Recent studies have shown a continuous increase in global saline-sodic soils up to the extent of 1128 million hectares worldwide. The commercial application of composite biochar, liquid organic fertilizers, and drip irrigation system, and their modification strategies using microbes, vermi-composts, and green plant materials to sustain soil quality and immobilize soil pollutants can restore our degraded lands. After the restoration phase, these lands can be utilized for producing biofuel, timber, grasslands, forage crops, and agri-tourism in the rural and semi-rural-urban areas."--
Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management Enables readers to strengthen existing agricultural strategies to sustainably solve contemporary problems like food supply chain gaps and food scarcity
Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management explains strategies to check the deterioration of soil quality, irrigation water quality, reuse of wastewaters in agriculture after treatment, organic fertigation, and corporate fertigation, to transform current agriculture into sustainable agriculture, and demonstrates cost effective technologies for sustainable development of site-specific ecosystems. Techniques to eradicate malnutrition, such as enhanced biofortification, are also covered.
Sample topics covered in Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management include:
- Foremost developments in the restoration and utilization of degraded lands through organic farming, precision agriculture, climate-resilient fodder/forage cultivation, and livestock management
- Promotion of agro-forestry-based apiculture, silviculture, and sericulture, and corporate fertigation, and reclaiming urban brownfields and industrial areas
- Development of diverse products, including biofuel, fiber, fodder, timber, and herbal products leading to the generation of social capitals
- Ecology of intercropping systems, tree-cover dynamics of grazing lands, and cover crops for soil management
Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management is a comprehensive and authoritative resource on the subject, making it a must-have resource for scientists working in agrobiodiversity, agroecology, bioscience, restoration ecology, soil science, and sustainable science, along with postgraduate students in ecology, environmental sciences, and environmental economics.
List of Contributors xv
Preface xxi
About the Editors xxv
1 Soil Degradation: A Major Challenge in the Twenty- First Century 1
Fįbio Carvalho Nunes, Clįudia Cseko Nolasco de Carvalho, Lander de Jesus
Alves, and Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Soil Degradation: Start and Consequences 4
1.3 Soil Protection, Conservation, and Recuperation Strategies 12
1.4 Challenges for the Twenty- First Century 14
1.5 Final Considerations 16
2 Degradation of Agriculture Systems by Invasive Alien Plants and
Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Restoration 23
Prabhat Kumar Rai
2.1 Introduction 23
2.2 Agroecological Solutions 29
2.3 Biological Control Methods 33
2.4 Classical or Inoculative Biological Control 33
2.5 Allelopathy in Agroecosystems 34
2.6 Restoration and Carbon Sequestration Approaches in Agro/Ecosystem/
Forestry Systems 35
2.7 Conclusions 37
3 Soil Management for Carbon Sequestration 49
Taoufik El Rasafi, Ahmed El Moukhtari, Ayoub Haouas, Anas Tallou, Wassila
Bouta, Yassine Aallam, Soumia Amir, Hanane Hamdali, Mohamed Farissi,
Abdelmajid Haddioui, and Abdallah Oukarroum
3.1 Introduction 49
3.2 Agronomic Management Practices 50
3.3 Conclusion 57
4 Soil Degradation, Resilience, Restoration, and Sustainable Use 65
Diana Cota- Ungson, Yolanda Gonzįlez- Garcķa, and Antonio Juįrez- Maldonado
4.1 Introduction 65
4.2 Impacts of Human Activity on Soil Degradation 66
4.3 Methods to Restore the Soil 69
4.4 Sustainable Use of the Soil 72
4.5 Conclusions 76
5 Organic Farming a Sustainable Option to Reduce Soil Degradation 83
Ana Paula Pinto, Jorge M.S. Faria, A. V. Dordio, and A. J. Palace Carvalho
5.1 Introduction 83
5.2 Land DegradationWhat Are we Doing to our Soil? 85
5.3 Organic FarmingAn Environmentally Sustainable Trend Expanding Worldwide
89
5.4 Organic Farming and Soil Fertility 93
5.5 Conclusions 115
6 Ecological Restoration of Degraded Soils Through Protective Afforestation
145
Marcin Pietrzykowski, Bartomiej Wos, and Marek Pajak
6.1 Introduction 145
6.2 The Importance of Reclamation for the Protection of Post- Mining Sites
146
6.3 Soil Reconstruction in Varied Post- Mine Site Conditions 148
6.4 Criteria for Assessing the Adaptation of Tree Species to the Conditions
of Reclaimed Areas 150
6.5 The Impact of Tree Species on Soil Properties 155
6.6 Conclusion 158
7 Biochar Applications for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental
Management 165
Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad
7.1 Introduction 165
7.2 Resume of Biochar for Sustainable Soil Management 166
7.3 Biochar Advantages for Sustainable Soil Management 169
7.4 Feedstock for Production of Biochar 170
7.5 Soil Carbon Storage/Sequestration 171
7.6 Biochar Influence on Detoxification of Potentially Toxic Elements in
Soil 174
7.7 Biochar Mitigates Salinity in Different Crop Fields 177
7.8 Miscellaneous Benefits of Biochar for Soil Sustainability 179
8 Restoring Ecosystems: Guidance from Agroecology for Sustainability in
Thailand 201
Woranan Nakbanpote, Pranee Srihaban, Wutthisat Chokkuea, Winya Dungkaew,
Uraiwan Taya, Piyanutt Khanema, Ruttanakorn Munjit, Ponlakit Jitto, Piyapatr
Busababodhin, Surasak Khankhum, Khanitta Somtrakoon, and Majeti Narasimha
Vara Prasad
8.1 Introduction 201
8.2 Importance of Agricultural Strategy and Ecological Restoration in
Thailand 202
8.3 Management of Thailands Restoration of Agricultural Areas 204
8.4 Special Cases of Restoration and Sustainable Agriculture in Thailand
213
8.5 Conclusions 224
9 Emergy Approach to the Sustainable Use of Ecosystems toward Better Land
Management 231
Joana Marinheiro, Ana Fonseca, Joćo Serra, and Clįudia Marques- dos- Santos
9.1 Introduction 231
9.2 Emergy Methodology 232
9.3 Review Methodology 233
9.4 Mixed Farming 235
9.5 Emergy Applied to Mixed Farming 235
9.6 Emergy Indices and Scope Widening 236
9.7 Main Findings and Gaps in Literature 241
9.8 Future Advises 242
10 Agroecological Transformation for Sustainable Food Systems 247
Ayoub Haouas, Anas Tallou, Soumia Amir, Abdelmajid Haddioui, Abdallah
Oukarroum, and Taoufik El Rasafi
10.1 Introduction 247
10.2 Agroecology 248
10.3 Agroecological Approaches 252
10.4 Limits 255
10.5 Prospects 255
10.6 Conclusion 256
11 Alternative Production Systems ("Roof- Top," Vertical, Hydroponic, and
Aeroponic Farming) 261
Įgnes Szepesi
11.1 Introduction 261
11.2 Rooftop Farming/Agriculture (RA) and Vertical Farming 262
11.3 Hydroponic Farming 268
11.4 Aeroponic Farming 270
11.5 Future Perspectives 270
12 Regaining the Essential Ecosystem Services in Degraded Lands 277
V. Girijaveni, K. Sammi Reddy, J.V.N.S. Prasad, V.K. Singh, and Chitranjan
Kumar
12.1 Introduction 277
12.2 Soil and Water Conservation Techniques 279
12.3 Soil Management 280
12.4 Loose Boulder/Stone/Masonry Check Dams/Brushwood Check Dams 283
12.5 Crop Management 284
12.6 Soil Erosion Models for Quantification 289
12.7 Integrated Nutrient Management to Address the Soil Degradation 290
12.8 Improving Soil Ecosystem Services Through Soil Microorganisms 292
13 Phytochemicals as an Eco- Friendly Source for Sustainable Management of
Soil- Borne Plant Pathogens in Soil Ecosystem 303
Shikha Tiwari, Nawal K. Dubey, and Chitranjan Kumar
13.1 Introduction 303
13.2 Soil- Borne Pathogens: Major Threat to Agroecosystem 305
13.3 Green Chemicals as Better Alternatives to Synthetic Pesticides to
Combat Soil- Borne Pests 306
13.4 Nanoencapsulation as a Booster to Green Pesticides 309
13.5 Conclusion 313
14 Restoration of Saline Soils for Sustainable Crop Production 319
Bülent OKUR, Nesrin ÖRĒEN, and Nur OKUR
14.1 Introduction 319
14.2 Characteristics of Saline Soils 320
14.3 Impact of Soil Salinization on Plant Growth 322
14.4 Restoration of Saline Soils 327
14.5 Conclusion 332
15 Conservation Agriculture as Sustainable and Smart Soil Management: When
Food Systems Meet Sustainability 339
Rachid Mrabet, Akashdeep Singh, and Tarun Sharma
15.1 Introduction: Challenging A Global Syndemic 339
15.2 Conservation Agriculture: Exploring Concept, Objectives, and Ambitions
340
15.3 Harnessing Soil Functioning under Conservation Agriculture 341
15.4 Food Security Under Conservation Agriculture: From Farm to Fork 345
15.5 CA Systems as Drivers for Social Development and Economic Growth 346
15.6 Challenges and Socio- Economic Barriers for CA Adoption 347
15.7 Conclusion: Bridging and Bonding CA Science and Policy 348
16 The Ecology of Intercropping Systems, Tree- Cover Dynamics of Grazing
Lands, and Cover Crops for Soil Management 357
Chitranjan Kumar, Anil K. Singh , Deepak R. Joshi, and David E. Clay
16.1 Introduction 357
16.2 Intercropping Systems 358
16.3 Sustainable Forest Management 360
16.4 Cover Crops for Sustainable Soil Management 362
16.5 Conclusion 365
17 Strategies for Restoration and Utilization of Degraded Lands for
Sustainable Oil Palm Plantation and Industry 373
Ronny Purwadi, Sanggono Adisasmito, Daniel Pramudita, and Antonius Indarto
17.1 Introduction 373
17.2 Palm Oil Plantations: Characteristics and Issues 376
17.3 Degraded Land: Definition and Rehabilitation Efforts 380
17.4 Operation Strategies 387
17.5 Challenges and Opportunities 400
17.6 Conclusion 403
18 Reclaiming Urban Brownfields and Industrial AreasPotentials for
Agroecology 409
Petra Schneider, Tino Fauk, and Florin- Constantin Mihai
18.1 Introduction 409
18.2 Characterizing Urban Brownfields and Industrial Areas 410
18.3 After Use Options for Urban Brownfields and Industrial Areas 417
18.4 Role of Soil Management 424
18.5 Potentials for Agroecology 425
18.6 Conclusions 431
18.7 Outlook 432
19 Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Sustaining Saline and Metal
Contaminated Soils 437
Chitranjan Kumar, Ajay Tomar, Sangeeta Pandey, and Majeti Narasimha Vara
Prasad
19.1 Introduction 437
19.2 PGPR: Modes of Action to Improve Plant Growth 438
19.3 Molecular Characterization of PGPRs 438
19.4 PGPR: A Competent, Facultative, and Intracellular Microorganism 439
19.5 Signal Exchange between PGPRs and Root Hairs 440
19.6 Ammonia Production 442
19.7 Production of IAA and HCN 442
19.8 Solubilization of Nutrients (P, K, Ca, Zn, and Mg) 443
19.9 Siderophore Production 443
19.10 The Phenomenon of Antagonism and Hyperparasitism 444
19.11 Alleviation of Metal Stress 445
19.12 Assessment of Plant Growth- Promoting Activities 446
19.13 Assessment of Bacterial Reactions to Heavy Metals 448
19.14 Conclusion 449
20 Internet of Things (IoT) in Soil Management for Achieving Smart
Agriculture 457
Amir Parnian, Mehdi Mahbod, Chanchal K. Mitra, Hossein Beyrami, and Majeti
Narasimha Vara Prasad
20.1 Introduction 457
20.2 Sensors and Data in IoT- Based Systems 464
20.3 The Data 467
20.4 IoT in Agriculture 467
20.5 IoT in Soil Science 469
20.6 IoT Parts: Soil Sensors and Parameter Monitoring with IoT- Linked
Sensors 469
20.7 A Better Understanding of Soil Conditions (Fertility, Degradation,
Irrigation, Detection of Soil- Borne Diseases, etc.) 473
20.8 The Future Role of IoT in Smart Agriculture 475
20.9 Technology in Advanced Farming 476
20.10 Risks of IoT in Land Management and Food Security 479
20.11 Conclusion 480
References 480
Index 487
Majeti Narasimha Vara Prasad is an Emeritus Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, India. He has published over 219 papers and edited 34 books. He received a Doctorate in Botany from Lucknow University, India in 1979.
Dr. Chitranjan Kumar (MSc Gold Medallist, NET, D.Phil.) is a faculty member of Amity University and a well-known international soil scientist in the field of phyto-bio-remediation/management of sewage-irrigated soils/organic fertigation.
