Sustainable Soil Fertility: Balancing Agricultural Soils

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is a crucial environmental resource in terms of fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations under the umbrella of climate change. The sustainable management of soil health (and hence, fertility) is important to achieving several SDGs. Pertinent SDGs that are intricately connected with soil health include SDG 1 (End Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 5 (Gender Equality), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land). Some of these SDGs rely considerably on plant production and others depend on soil processes.

At a regional level, to comply with the salient challenges in the European agendas of (a) Horizon Europe’s mission for 2030 “Caring for soil is caring for life”; (b) the 2021 Action Plan for Organic Production; and (c) the Circular Economy Action Plan, adequate soil management practices and technologies that assist in increasing crop yields to meet the global food demand of the increasing population whilst not compromising natural resources or the environment need to be developed. This can only be achieved by adequately managing soil fertility and quality.

In this context, original research articles and reviews are welcomed that discuss soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties, as well as soil management practices that improve them and provide good ecosystemic services; the enhancement of soil fertility and crop production; and carbon sequestration. However, many other aspects will be taken into consideration.

In this sense, it is important to consider that adequate and sustainable soil management practices that achieve the highest degree of soil fertility include social and traditional knowledge. Hence, strategies and examples that derive from the application of cultural heritage but are technically and scientifically tested and verified are also welcome.

Considering all the above, the main areas this Special Issue would like to focus on are:

• Research and technical methods linked to sustainable soil fertility and management;
• Soil fertility strategies that have a regional/global applications;
• Technically and scientifically tested and verified traditional soil fertility management practices.

This Special Issue is aimed at anyone seeking to learn about new techniques and developments, including a broad audience of researchers, from environmental chemists, ecologists, and engineers to food industry and official environment control laboratories, together with other professionals responsible for resources management, and decision-makers. Important tools for problem solving in chemical and biological analysis can be discussed in detail. The different advances and promising applications described here are state-of-the-art and will be of paramount importance for ensuring food safety and environment health for current and future generations.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Daniel Sacristán Moraga
Dr. Julian Campo
Guest Editors

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• carbon sequestration
• organic amendments
• organic matter
• plough and tillage management
• economy and sustainable soil management
• local communities and traditional techniques