Soil resources constitute the very foundation of agriculture, so sustainable agriculture is inherently dependent on soil health. Soil health reflects the capacity of soil to respond beneficially to agricultural management, maintaining both agricultural production and the provision of varying ecosystem services, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity conservation in the long term. Soil health depends on the physical, chemical, and biological conditions of the soil that are required for plant growth and development. Ecological intensification differs from current strategies for agricultural intensification by embracing agroecological transitions to more sustainable agriculture and food systems. This chapter discusses the pivotal role that trees play in building and maintaining the soil health and functional resilience that are required for the ecological intensification of agriculture. It summarizes the current knowledge about functions and impacts of trees on soil health, and highlights the tree/soil biodiversity interactions that drive these functions.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003093718-27Altmetric score:
Dimensions Citation Count:
Publication year
2023
Authors
Barrios, E.; Coe, R.; Place, F.; Sileshi, G.W.; Sinclair, F.
Language
English
Keywords
soil, agroforestry, trees, intensification, agriculture
