Frontiers in Soil Management and Environment Sustainability in Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Dear Colleagues,

Managing soil properties includes protecting the soil structure necessary for agricultural and forest production and applying agricultural, silvicultural, and processing techniques to increase the long-term efficiency of the soil. Sustainable farming reduces pollution by using natural fertilizers and using fewer chemicals. This means that farm produce is healthier and better for people. Even the waste produced by sustainable farming goes back into the farm's ecosystem and does not pollute the environment. Soil and environment management is important, both directly and indirectly, to crop productivity, environmental sustainability, and human health.

Using cover crops, applying manure and compost, rotating crops, and controlling erosion for soil conservation, can maintain or increase soil organic matter. Other practices, especially plowing, tilling and cultivating, can decrease the amount of organic matter in the soil. Sustainable production deals with keeping the soil alive with organic matter, integrated pest management and reduction in usage of pesticides, protecting biodiversity, ensuring food safety and food quality, improving nutrient quality, and fertilizing the soil with organic fertilizers.

Healthy, fully functioning soil provides an environment that sustains and nourishes plants, soil microbes, and beneficial insects. Crops grown in healthy soil are more resilient because they resist pest pressure and use nutrients more efficiently. Therefore, research will be required to avoid further degradation of soils and environments through erosion or contamination and to produce sufficient safe and nutritious food for healthy diets.

This Special Issue aims to enlarge the present knowledge related to soil management and environmental sustainability in sustainable agriculture and forestry. Innovative research on technologies and methodological approaches are welcomed. The discussion of case studies, as well as of experimental work is encouraged.

Dr. Taimoor Hassan Farooq
Dr. Muhammad Saleem Arif
Dr. Muhammad Haroon U. Rashid
Guest Editors

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