Knowledge needs, available practices, and future challenges in agricultural soils

Abstract

Abstract. The goal of this study is to clarify research needs and identify effective practices for enhancing soil health. This was done by a synopsis of soil literature that specifically tests practices designed to maintain or enhance elements of soil health. Using an expert panel of soil scientists and practitioners, we then assessed the evidence in the soil synopsis to highlight practices beneficial to soil health, practices considered detrimental, and practices that need further investigation. A partial Spearman's correlation was used to analyse the panel's responses. We found that increased certainty in scientific evidence led to practices being considered to be more effective due to them being empirically justified. This suggests that for practices to be considered effective and put into practice, a substantial body of research is needed to support the effectiveness of the practice. This is further supported by the high proportion of practices (33 %), such as changing the timing of ploughing or amending the soil with crops grown as green manures, that experts felt had unknown effectiveness, usually due to insufficiently robust evidence. Only 7 of the 27 reviewed practices were considered to be beneficial, or likely to be beneficial in enhancing soil health. These included the use of (1) integrated nutrient management (organic and inorganic amendments); (2) cover crops; (3) crop rotations; (4) intercropping between crop rows or underneath the main crop; (5) formulated chemical compounds (such as nitrification inhibitors); (6) control of traffic and traffic timing; and (7) reducing grazing intensity. Our assessment, which uses the Delphi technique, is increasingly used to improve decision-making in conservation and agricultural policy, identified practices that can be put into practice to benefit soil health. Moreover, it has enabled us to identify practices that need further research and a need for increased communication between researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners, in order to find effective means of enhancing soil health.

Barriers and opportunities of soil knowledge to address soil challenges: Stakeholders’ perspectives across Europe

“…This priority is among the targets of EJP SOIL, which aims to strengthen a science-policy interface in the area of agricultural soil management, establishing open dialogue and active engagement with policy makers. Nevertheless, EJP SOIL leaves still unbridged the gap between scientists and end-users, whose importance, highlighted by this study, is in accordance with previous results from Key et al (2016) . The last underlined the importance of a two-way knowledge exchange, in particular between researchers and practitioners to effectively improve soil health.…”

“…Soil health remains crucial for delivering food security and ecosystem services ( Key et al, 2016 ) and could be enhanced by increases in soil organic matter content, by conserving or restoring degraded (drained) peat soils, by enhancing nutrient contents and retention capacity as well as water storage capacity and regulation. This study is a result of a multi-stakeholders consultation conducted in 20 countries across Europe through a standardized methodology which allows for the comparability and aggregation of collected data.…”

Modeling transmission of hexavalent chromium concentration and its health cost with a water quality analysis simulation program

“…More than 97% of the mass of heavy metals transported to oceans is known to be derived from river sediments (Jain & Sharma, 2001). Scientific interest in and sustainable management of agricultural areas and water have become fundamental to ensuring global food security, due to the increasing demand for agricultural and water resources (Keesstra et al, 2016;Key et al, 2016).…”

A European stakeholder survey on soil science skills for sustainable agriculture

“…This study relied on expert opinion, as done in previous research about soil knowledge and soil science educational needs (Bampa et al, 2019; Cimpoiasu et al, 2021; Key et al, 2016; Masse et al, 2019). The majority (80%) of the participants were aged 40 or older, and 40% aged 55 or over.…”

“…Further, no real outlier could be identified. This, in turn, could indicate the relative homogeneity of opinions across European stakeholders regarding the soil-related skills needed in the This study relied on expert opinion, as done in previous research about soil knowledge and soil science educational needs (Bampa et al, 2019;Cimpoiasu et al, 2021;Key et al, 2016;Masse et al, 2019). The majority (80%) of the participants were aged 40 or older, and 40% aged 55 or over.…”