Making soil health a part of rangeland management

Abstract

Soil health describes the ability of a soil to function at its potential, specifically “the capacity of a soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans” (USDA NRCS 2014). There is a long history of thoughtful consideration of the soil by philosophers, political leaders, and scientists. Political leaders from Chief Seattle to Franklin Roosevelt and philosophers from Homer to Aldo Leopold have referred to the health of the soil as a basis for sustaining civilizations. Clearly, an appreciation of the importance of soil is a part of the ethos of most modern societies. However, that philosophical and cultural commitment frequently is lost among other, more expedient desires as agricultural and land management policies are developed and implemented. Ensuring that soil and ecosystem health are essential components of land use and management decision making remains a challenge. The renewed emphasis on the concept of soil health as an indicator of healthy agricultural ecosystems is one step toward answering that challenge.