Agroecological Approaches for Sustainable Soil Management

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.

List of Contributors xv

Preface xxi

About the Editors xxv

1 Soil Degradation: A Major Challenge in the Twenty- First Century 1
Fábio Carvalho Nunes, Cláudia 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 González- García, and Antonio Juárez- 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 Degradation–What Are we Doing to our Soil? 85

5.3 Organic Farming–An 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, Bartłomiej Woś, and Marek Pająk

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 Thailand’s 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, João Serra, and Cláudia 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
Ágnes 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 ÖRÇEN, 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 Areas–Potentials 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