A Review on Soil Biological Properties under Forest and Agroforestry Land Uses

Abstract

The soil is the most important factor for sustaining life on earth by providing a base for plant growth and development. Land use changes like conversion of forest land into cultivable land may result in changes in soil chemical, biological, and physical characteristics. Maintaining and improving the soil health has become essential, not only to sustain the productivity of soil to meet the ever-increasing demand (food, fodder, fuel, and water) of the growing population but also to mitigate climate change, which benefits the farming community by ensuring a constant income along with preventing the soil from deterioration. Soil biological characteristics play a vital role in the assessment of the long-term health of agricultural soils or the identification of unhealthy soil. The present review focuses on the impact of different land uses, particularly forest and agroforestry systems, on biological properties of soil. The findings of this study highlights agroforestry, as an efficient approach for sustaining productivity, enhancing soil quality, and supporting environmental conservation.