Soil Quality Indicators: A Comprehensive Review
Sahil Sharma, Balara Lishika, Shubham, Shilpa Kaushal
International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · pp. 315–325 · Published 22 Nov 2023
10.9734/ijpss/2023/v35i224139Abstract
Soil health is a critical determinant of ecosystem sustainability and agricultural productivity. This review article examines the significance of soil indicators, microbial community dynamics, soil enzymes, and their relationship with essential soil properties, including organic carbon content, bulk density, soil penetration resistance, water holding capacity, temperature, and pH. Traditional agricultural practices, such as conventional tillage, have been shown to significantly alter soil structure and physical properties. Bulk density, a key parameter, is used to gauge the compaction and porosity of soil, which directly influences water and nutrient transfer, as well as aeration. Conservation tillage practices, including the incorporation of crop residues into the soil, play a pivotal role in reducing bulk density. Soil temperature is a significant factor influencing the physical, chemical, and biological processes in soil, ultimately impacting plant growth. Soil pH, often referred to as the 'master soil variable,' has a far-reaching impact on various biological, chemical, and physical characteristics within the soil. It significantly influences biogeochemical processes and the activity of enzymes involved in the degradation of organic materials. Alterations in soil pH can directly affect microbial activity, microbial diversity, and the efficiency of enzyme-driven processes. This comprehensive review synthesizes the current knowledge of these biological indicators, emphasizing their interconnections and implications for soil health and sustainable land management practices. Understanding the multifaceted relationships between these indicators is crucial for the development of effective strategies to enhance soil health and ecosystem resilience.
Cited by 29
Eduardo Saldanha Vogelmann, Sara Evangelista do Vale, Germano Ehlert Pollnow · Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science · 2025
Azra Noreen, Summera Jahan, Atif Kamran · Scientific Reports · 2025
Adarshana Thapa, Siva Muthuprakash, Om Damani · Environmental and Sustainability Indicators · 2025
Florin SALA, Simona ROSU · LIFE SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT · 2024
Jerry L. Hatfield, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Cristine L. S. Morgan · Journal of Soil and Water Conservation · 2025
Yuan Min Shen, Mazdida Sulaiman, Guan Lun Chen · Frontiers in Education · 2025
Yahya Kooch, Mehdi Heydari, Mohammad Kazem Parsapour · Acta Oecologica · 2025
Menuka Maharjan, Santosh Ayer, Sachin Timilsina · Soil Security · 2024
Tajudeen B. Akinrinola, Adedayo O. Salami, Samuel A. Adegoke · Chilean journal of agricultural & animal sciences · 2025
Jianlu Wu, Yaru Rong, Lei Wu · Geoderma · 2025
Showing 13 of 29 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Microbiomes as Natural Allies: Towards Sustainable Farming Practices — shares topic coverage
- Plant and Soil Biota: Crucial for Mitigating Climate Change in Forests — shares topic coverage
- Soil Quality Changes and Quality Status: A Case Study of the Subtropical China Region Ultisol — shares topic coverage
- Response of Conservation Agriculture on System Productivity and Carbon Sequestration in Rice-Based Cropping Systems — shares topic coverage
- Long Term Benefits of Legume Based Cropping Systems on Soil Health and Productivity. An Overview — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
0
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
29
Citations
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
No views recorded yet.
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
No traffic recorded yet.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.