Soil Science: Fundamentals to Recent Advances

Preface
Contents
Editors and Contributors
Part I: General Concepts and Development
	1: Managing Soil Resources for Human Health and Environmental Sustainability
		1.1 Introduction
		1.2 Drivers of Soil Degradation
		1.3 Soil Degradation and Human Health
		1.4 Strategies for the Management of Soil Resources
		1.5 Conclusion and Way Forward
		References
	2: Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics, Stabilization, and Environmental Implication
		2.1 Introduction
		2.2 Soil Organic Pools and Dynamics
		2.3 Long-Term Application of Fertilizer and Manure on Active and Slow Pool of Carbon
		2.4 Slow Pool of Carbon
		2.5 Passive Pools of Carbon
		2.6 Steady State of C and Turnover Period
		2.7 Carbon Stabilization
		2.8 Impact of Organic Amendments Induced GHGs Emission and Management Practices for Mitigation
		2.9 Effect of Land Use and Management Practices on C-sequestration
		2.10 Strategies to Enhance SOC
		2.11 Future Research
		References
	3: Soil Organic Carbon: Past, Present, and Future Research
		3.1 Introduction
		3.2 Soil Organic Carbon Research
			3.2.1 Estimating Soil Organic Carbon Stocks
			3.2.2 Improving Soil Organic Carbon Stocks
			3.2.3 Monitoring Soil Organic Carbon Over Time
		3.3 The Future of Quantifying Soil Organic Carbon Stocks
		3.4 Conclusion
		References
	4: Belowground Carbon Storage and Dynamics
		4.1 Introduction
		4.2 Importance of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
		4.3 Surface Carbon Vs Deep Soil Carbon Sequestration
		4.4 Mechanisms of SOC Sequestration
			4.4.1 Chemical Stabilization
			4.4.2 Physical Stabilization
			4.4.3 Biochemical Stabilization
		4.5 Measurement of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
			4.5.1 Determining Soil Organic Carbon
			4.5.2 Calculating Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
			4.5.3 Correction for Soil Mass
			4.5.4 Correction for Sand Particlesand Light Fraction
			4.5.5 Correction for Gravel and Rocks
		4.6 Strategies for Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration
			4.6.1 Integrated Nutrient Management
			4.6.2 Conservation Tillage and Conservation Agriculture
			4.6.3 Crop Diversification
			4.6.4 Agroforestry
			4.6.5 Prevention of Soil Erosion and Restoration of Degraded Lands
		4.7 Conclusion
		References
	5: Soil Biodiversity and Community Composition for Ecosystem Services
		5.1 Introduction
		5.2 Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
			5.2.1 Soil Development
			5.2.2 Organic Matter Recycling and Nutrient Availability
			5.2.3 Carbon Cycle and Climate Control
			5.2.4 Regulation of the Water Cycle
			5.2.5 Soil Bioremediation
			5.2.6 Pest Control
			5.2.7 Human Health
		5.3 Potential Threats to Soil Biodiversity
			5.3.1 Soil Degradation
			5.3.2 Inappropriate Soil and Crop Management Practices
			5.3.3 Climate Change
			5.3.4 Soil Pollution
			5.3.5 GM Crops
			5.3.6 Introduction of Exotic Species
		5.4 Epilogue
		References
	6: Rhizodeposition: An Unseen Teaser of Nature and Its Prospects in Nutrients Dynamics
		6.1 Introduction
		6.2 Rhizodeposition: An Outline
			6.2.1 Compounds Present in Rhizodeposition and Their Functions
			6.2.2 Factors Affecting Rhizodeposition
				6.2.2.1 Abiotic Factors
				6.2.2.2 Biotic Factors
			6.2.3 Mechanisms of Release of Rhizodeposition
				6.2.3.1 Sloughing-off of Root Border Cells
				6.2.3.2 Secretion of Mucilage by Roots
				6.2.3.3 Root Exudation
				6.2.3.4 Senescence of Root Epidermis
		6.3 Techniques: A Pathway for Quantification
			6.3.1 Carbon Tracer Techniques
				6.3.1.1 Pulse Labeling
				6.3.1.2 Continuous Labeling
				6.3.1.3 13C Natural Abundance
			6.3.2 Labeling Plants with 15N
				6.3.2.1 15N Dilution Technique
				6.3.2.2 15N2 Enrichment Technique
				6.3.2.3 Shoot Labeling Techniques
				6.3.2.4 Root Labeling Techniques
				6.3.2.5 Atmospheric Labeling
				6.3.2.6 Cotton-Wick Technique
		6.4 Interaction: Plant-Rhizodeposits-Soil
			6.4.1 Diffusion
			6.4.2 Anion Channel
			6.4.3 Vesicle Transport
		6.5 Rhizodeposition: Impact in Nutrient Mobilization
			6.5.1 Carbon Dynamics: Priming and Mineralization
			6.5.2 Nitrogen Dynamics
				6.5.2.1 Biological Nitrogen Fixation
				6.5.2.2 Role of Flavonoid in N Fixation
			6.5.3 Phosphorus Dynamics
				6.5.3.1 Inorganic P
				6.5.3.2 Organic P
				6.5.3.3 P Acquisition by VAM
			6.5.4 Potassium Dynamics
				6.5.4.1 Mechanism of K Solubilization
				6.5.4.2 Molecular Genetics of K Solubilizing Bacteria
			6.5.5 Micronutrients Dynamics
				6.5.5.1 Trace Metals Solubilization by DOM
				6.5.5.2 Trace Metals Solubilization by Organic Acids
				6.5.5.3 Fe Solubilization in Rhizodeposition
		6.6 Rhizodeposition Managements Strategies
		6.7 Conclusion
		References
	7: Soil Indicators and Management Strategies for Environmental Sustainability
		7.1 Background
		7.2 Indicators of Soil and Environmental Sustainability
			7.2.1 Soil Organic Matter
			7.2.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
			7.2.3 Soil Microbial Community Structure and Functions
		7.3 Management Approaches for Improving Environmental Sustainability
			7.3.1 Conservation Tillage Systems
			7.3.2 Crop Residue Addition and Surface Mulching
			7.3.3 Cover Cropping, Crop Rotation, and Diversification
			7.3.4 Livestock-Integration in Cropping Systems
		7.4 Conclusion
		References
	8: Conservation Agriculture in Reshaping Belowground Microbial Diversity
		8.1 Introduction
		8.2 Belowground Microbial Diversity Under Conservation Agriculture
			Box 8.1 Expected Keystone Species Under Conservation Agriculture
		8.3 Conservation Agriculture Based Ecology for the Sustenance of Soil Microbial Diversity
			8.3.1 Food Security
			8.3.2 Habitat Reconstruction
			8.3.3 Microclimate Creation
			8.3.4 System Heterogeneity
			8.3.5 Robust Crop Rotation
			8.3.6 Carbon Stock and Its Eco-Functionality
			8.3.7 System Stability
			8.3.8 Demographic Stochasticity
			8.3.9 Low-Input Agriculture
		8.4 Importance of Soil Microbial Diversity in Conservation Based Agriculture
			Box 8.2 Challenges in Harnessing the Benefit from Microbial Diversity Under Conservation Agriculture
		8.5 Strategies for Maintaining Microbial Diversity Under Conservation Agriculture
			Box 8.3 Constrains, Background and Strategies to Improve Microbial Diversity Under CA
		8.6 Conclusion
		References
	9: Saline and Sodic Ecosystems in the Changing World
		9.1 Introduction
		9.2 Global Extent of Saline Ecosystem
		9.3 Salt-Affected Soil in Changing Climate
		9.4 Poor Quality Water: An Ever Increasing Threat
		9.5 Soil Organic Matter in Saline/Sodic Environment
		9.6 Plant Nutrition in Salt-Affected Soil
		9.7 Technological Options for Salinity Management
			9.7.1 Inland Saline Soil with Shallow Water Table with Poor Quality Water
			9.7.2 Costal and Deltaic Saline Soil
			9.7.3 Bio-Drainage
			9.7.4 Technological Options for Sodicity Management
		9.8 Conclusions and Way Forward
		References
	10: Approaches in Advanced Soil Elemental Extractability: Catapulting Future Soil-Plant Nutrition Research
		10.1 Introduction
		10.2 Addressing the Issue of Soil-Plant Nutrition Relationship Studies
			10.2.1 Dynamics of Soil-Plant Nutrients for Agricultural Sustainability
			10.2.2 Factors Influencing This Dynamic Soil-Plant Relationship
		10.3 Traditional Approaches to Soil Elemental Analysis
			10.3.1 A Brief Idea of the Different Approaches
			10.3.2 Underlying Principles of Nutrient Extraction by Extractants
				10.3.2.1 Intensity and Capacity Factors
				10.3.2.2 Acid or Base Extractions: Dissolution and Oxidation Phenomena
				10.3.2.3 Chelating and Complexing Agents
			10.3.3 Use of Different Single Extractants Protocols
			10.3.4 The Demerit of Traditional Extractants and their Workload
		10.4 Current Researchable Advances: Delving into Multinutrient Extractants
			10.4.1 Concept of Multinutrient Extractant
			10.4.2 Chronological Advances in the Field of Universal Multinutrient Extractant
			10.4.3 Classification of Universal Extractants Used for Soil Multinutrient Research
		10.5 Use of Multinutrient Extractants in Heavy Metal Research
		10.6 Advanced Instrumentation Techniques and Their Analytical Workability
			10.6.1 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
			10.6.2 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry
			10.6.3 Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry
			10.6.4 Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry
			10.6.5 Ion selective electrodes
		10.7 Economic Prosperity for Advanced Soil Elemental Analysis
		10.8 Interpretation and Validation of Multinutrient Research Findings
			10.8.1 Significance of Critical Soil Nutrient Concentration Under Elemental Extraction Procedures
			10.8.2 State of Soil MultiNutrient Extractants Research and its Global Scenario
			10.8.3 Future Line of Research
		10.9 Conclusion
		References
	11: Role of Biochar on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration in Soil: Opportunities for Mitigating Climate Change
		11.1 Introduction
		11.2 Climate Change Mitigation Options
		11.3 What Is Biochar?
		11.4 Biochar to Mitigate Climate Change: Complex Mechanisms
		11.5 Biochar Stability: A Prerequisite for Carbon Sequestration in Soil
		11.6 Aromaticity
		11.7 Presence of Amorphous Structures and Turbostratic Crystallites
		11.8 Presence of Rounded Structures
		11.9 Reduced Accessibility to Decomposers
		11.10 Particulate Nature
			11.10.1 Interactions with Mineral Surfaces
		11.11 Role of Biochar on Soil C Sequestration
			11.11.1 Feedstock Type and Pyrolysis Temperature
			11.11.2 Application Rate of Biochar
			11.11.3 Soil pH
			11.11.4 Soil Texture
			11.11.5 Interaction of Biochar with Native Soil Organic Matter
		11.12 Effect of Biochar on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
			11.12.1 Biochar Feedstock on GHG Emissions
			11.12.2 Pyrolysis Temperature on GHG Emission
			11.12.3 Soil Type and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rate
		11.13 Epilogue
		References
	12: Biochar Role in Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Soils
		12.1 Introduction: Climate Change and Agriculture
		12.2 Biochar
		12.3 BC Role in GHG Emission Mitigation
		12.4 Biochar Application Rate
		12.5 Biochar Application Time/Experiment Duration
		12.6 Land Use
		12.7 Biochar Feedstock
		12.8 Pyrolysis Temperature
		12.9 Biochar C:N Ratio
		12.10 Soil and BC pH
		12.11 Soil Texture
		12.12 Discussion
		References
	13: Nanotechnology for Native Nutrient Mobilization and Enhanced Use Efficiency
		13.1 What Is Nanotechnology?
		13.2 Why Nanotechnology?
		13.3 Nanoparticle Farming
			13.3.1 Nanoparticle Application
			13.3.2 Mode of Entry
			13.3.3 Effect on Soil and Plants
		13.4 Native Soil Microorganisms
		13.5 Nutrient Mobilization
		13.6 Nutrient Use Efficiency
		13.7 Ways to Enhance Efficiency
		13.8 Nanoparticles on Plant Productivity
		13.9 Role of Nanotechnology on Soil Health and Crop Yield
	14: Nanotechnology in Environmental Soil Science
		14.1 Introduction
		14.2 Soil Pollution and Nano-Remediation
		14.3 Water Pollution and Nano-Remediation
		14.4 Sensing and Monitoring Systems
		14.5 Environmental Risk From Nanotechnology
		14.6 Strategies and Regulatory Measures
		14.7 Recommendations
		14.8 Future Studies and Thrust
		14.9 Epilogue
		References
	15: Importance of Soil Heterogeneity Studyin Variety Testing Programs
		15.1 Introduction
		15.2 Influence of Soil Heterogeneity on Crops Growth and Development
		15.3 Soil Heterogeneity Increases the Complexity of Agricultural Research
		15.4 Challenges in Exploring Soil Heterogeneity
		15.5 Importance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Detecting Soil Heterogeneity
		References
	16: Environmental and Societal Implications of Soil Response to Increasing Agricultural Demands
		16.1 Introduction
		16.2 Land Conversion
		16.3 Land Intensification
		16.4 Summary
		References
Part II: Recent Scientific Advances Covering Broader Aspect of Natural Resource Management
	17: Soil-Centric Approaches Towards Climate-Resilient Agriculture
		17.1 Introduction
		17.2 Impact of Climate Change on Soil
			17.2.1 Soil Formation and Development
			17.2.2 Soil Fertility and Productivity
			17.2.3 Nutrient Transformation in Soil
			17.2.4 Soil Carbon Dynamics
			17.2.5 Response to Mycorrhizal Association
			17.2.6 Soil Biological Activities
		17.3 Concept, Principles, and Characteristics of Soil-Centric Approaches
			17.3.1 Principles of Soil-Centric Approaches
				17.3.1.1 Conservation Agriculture Practices
				17.3.1.2 Covering the Soil with Mulches and Plant Debris
				17.3.1.3 Application of the Crop Cover
		17.4 Soil Carbon Sequestration
			17.4.1 Importance of Soil Organic Carbon
			17.4.2 Mechanism of C-sequestration
			17.4.3 Above Ground C-sequestration
			17.4.4 Below Ground C-sequestration
				17.4.4.1 Measurement and Estimation
					Soil Aggregates
					Below Ground Living Organisms
			17.4.5 Carbon Sequestration Programme and Rural Livelihood Security
			17.4.6 Biodiversity Conservation
		17.5 Agronomic Intervention Towards Soil-Centric Approach
			17.5.1 Crop Diversification
			17.5.2 Water Management
			17.5.3 Irrigation with Tillage
			17.5.4 Soil-Centric Approach of Tillage
			17.5.5 Soil-Centric Plant Breeding Approaches
				17.5.5.1 Breeding for Enhancing Nutrient Use Efficiency
				17.5.5.2 How Does the Deep Root Help in Carbon Sequestration?
		17.6 Forest-Crop Interaction Towards Soil-Centric Approaches
			17.6.1 The Utility of Agroforestry Under Future Climate Change Scenarios
			17.6.2 Mitigating Temperature Change
			17.6.3 Maintaining Soil Water
			17.6.4 Maintaining or Improving Soil Quality
				17.6.4.1 Soil Carbon
				17.6.4.2 Soil Nitrogen
				17.6.4.3 Soil Phosphorus
		17.7 Conclusion
		References
	18: Functional Diversity Management through Microbial Integrity for Sustainability
		18.1 Introduction
		18.2 Soil Biodiversity
		18.3 Levels of Microbial Diversity
			18.3.1 Species Diversity
			18.3.2 Genetic Diversity
			18.3.3 Community Diversity
		18.4 Functional Diversity
		18.5 Anthropogenic and Climatic Factors Influencing Soil Microbial Diversity and Functionality
		18.6 Microbial Integrity
		18.7 Soil Community Composition Versus Ecosystem ``Functional Microbial´´ Integrity
		18.8 Promotion of Soil Biodiversity to Enhance Agricultural Sustainability
			18.8.1 Soil Biodiversity Engineering
			18.8.2 Soil Management
			18.8.3 Efficient Crop Diversification
			18.8.4 Plant Breeding for Rhizosphere Microbiome Engineering
			18.8.5 Biofertilizer/Effective Microbe Application and Biocontrol
		18.9 Conclusions
		References
	19: The Effect of Crops and Farming Systems on Soil Quality: A Case Study
		19.1 Introduction
		19.2 Soil Quality
		19.3 Integrated Farming System
			19.3.1 Key Principles
				19.3.1.1 Cyclic
				19.3.1.2 Rational
				19.3.1.3 Ecologically Sustainable
				19.3.1.4 Advantages
		References
	20: Liquid Biofertilizer: A Potential Tool Towards Sustainable Agriculture
		20.1 Introduction
		20.2 The Concept of Liquid
		20.3 LBFs: Application
		20.4 Classification of LBFs
			20.4.1 Methods of LBFs Application
		20.5 Factors Affecting LBFs
			20.5.1 Advantages of LBFs
			20.5.2 Limitation of LBFs
			20.5.3 Caution in the Use of LBFs
		20.6 Conclusion
		References
	21: Employment of Seed Priming as a Salt-Stress Mitigating Approach in Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities
		21.1 Introduction
		21.2 Responses of Crop Plants to Salinity Stress
		21.3 Seed Priming Techniques and Influences on Crops Under Salinity Stress
		21.4 Mechanism of Priming-Induced Salinity Tolerance in Crops
		21.5 Employment of Seed Priming: Challenges and Opportunities
		21.6 Conclusions
		References
	22: Microbial Approaches for Bio-Amelioration and Management of Salt Affected Soils
		22.1 Introduction
		22.2 Reclamation and Management of Salt Affected Soils
		22.3 Halophilic Bacteria
		22.4 Plant-Microbes Interactions to Mitigate Salt Stress
		22.5 Applications of Halophilic Bacteria
			22.5.1 Liquid Bioformulations Halophilic Microbes for Amelioration of Sodic Soils
		22.6 Case Studies
		22.7 Microbial Inoculation Influencing Soil Properties
		22.8 Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM)
		22.9 Cyanobacteria
		22.10 Future Challenges for Salt Stress Mitigation Through Halophilic Microbes
		22.11 Conclusion
		References
	23: Role of Zeolites in Improving Nutrient and Water Storage Capacity of Soil and Their Impact on Overall Soil Quality and Cro...
		23.1 Overview of Zeolites
		23.2 Application on Zeolites on Crop Performance
		23.3 Role of Zeolite Application on Soil Quality
		23.4 Effect of Zeolite Application on Nutrient Retention and Release Chemistry in Different Types of Soils
		23.5 Zeolite Application and Water Storage, its Retention and Productivity in Different Types of Soils
		23.6 Zeolites as Soil Amendments and Slow Release Fertilizers
			23.6.1 As Slow Release Fertilizer
			23.6.2 Heavy Metal Remediation
		23.7 Economics of Zeolites Application
		23.8 Conclusion
		References
	24: Sulfur in Soil: Abiotic Stress Signaling, Transmission and Induced Physiological Responses in Plants
		24.1 Introduction
			24.1.1 Sulfur: Its Physico-Chemical Prospects, Molecular Diversity, Plant Biological Entity
		24.2 Available Forms of Sulfur, Its Variations and Characterization in Agro-Ecological Soil
			24.2.1 Inorganic Sulfur Pool and Its Variations in Soil
			24.2.2 Sulfur in Soil as Organic Residues
			24.2.3 Interconversion of Inorganic and Organic Sulfur in Soil: Mineralization and Immobilization
		24.3 Sulfur Supplementation Through Carrier System in Soil for Plants´ Nutrient Inputs
			24.3.1 Improved and New Formulation of Sulfur Supplementation
		24.4 Translocation of Sulfur Through Cellular and Non-cellular Paths in Plant
			24.4.1 Flux of Sulfur Through Vascular System and Its Utilization Under Abiotic Stress Imposition
			24.4.2 Interaction of Plant Growth Regulators Under Stress with Sulfate Accumulation in Soil
			24.4.3 Sulfur in Signal Perception and Transduction Pathways Under Drought Stress
		24.5 Sulfur Residues in Plants: Antioxidation Pathways Through Non-enzymatic Mode
			24.5.1 Crosstalk with Sulfur and Nitrogen Reacting Species
			24.5.2 Nutrient Diversity and Sulfur for Stress Tolerance
		24.6 Conclusion and Further Scopes for Research
		References
	25: Reducing Methane Emission from Lowland Rice Ecosystem
		25.1 Introduction
		25.2 Mechanism of Methane Formation and Transport
			25.2.1 Mechanism of Methane Formation
			25.2.2 Methane Transportation from Paddy Soil to Atmosphere
		25.3 Sources of Methane Emission in Nature
		25.4 Factors Controlling Methane Emission in Agro-Ecosystem
		25.5 Aerobic Methane Oxidation
		25.6 Techniques for Reducing Methane Emission
			25.6.1 Chemical Methods
				25.6.1.1 Application of Suitable Chemical Fertilizer
				25.6.1.2 Application and Synthesis of Right Organic Manure
				25.6.1.3 Nitrification Inhibitors
				25.6.1.4 Application of Biochar
			25.6.2 Agronomic Management
				25.6.2.1 Water Management
				25.6.2.2 Dry Direct Seeded Rice Cultivation
				25.6.2.3 Crop Residue Management
				25.6.2.4 Crop Diversification
		25.7 Future Research Perspective
		25.8 Conclusion
		References
	26: Potential and Risk of Nanotechnology Application in Agriculture vis-à-vis Nanomicronutrient Fertilizers
		26.1 Introduction
		26.2 Applications of Nanotechnology in Agriculture
		26.3 Nanofertilizers
			26.3.1 Synthesis of Nanofertilizers
			26.3.2 Characterization of Nanofertilizers
		26.4 Micronutrient Nanofertilizers
			26.4.1 Zinc Nanofertilizer
			26.4.2 Iron Nanofertilizer
			26.4.3 Manganese Nanofertilizer
			26.4.4 Copper Nanofertilizer
			26.4.5 Molybdenum Nanofertilizer
		26.5 Risk of Nanoparticle Application on Environment
			26.5.1 Risk of Nanoparticle Application on Soil
			26.5.2 Risk of Nanoparticle Application on Plant
			26.5.3 Risk of Nanoparticle Application on Water
			26.5.4 Risk of Nanoparticle Application on Human Health
			26.5.5 Asian Prospects of Micronutrient Nanofertilizer
		26.6 Conclusion
		References
	27: Introduction to Drone Technology for Natural Resource Management in Agriculture
		27.1 Introduction
		27.2 What Are Drones?
			27.2.1 Types of Drone
			27.2.2 Why Are Drones Used in Agriculture?
		27.3 Drone as a Tool of Remote Sensing
			27.3.1 Spectral Signature
		27.4 Drone Components: An Introduction
			27.4.1 Main Components of a Drone
			27.4.2 Drone Platform, Remote Control and Ground Control Station
				27.4.2.1 Batteries
				27.4.2.2 GPS
			27.4.3 Sensors and Cameras for Drones
		27.5 Types of Drone Based on Rotors/Wings
			27.5.1 Flying a Drone
			27.5.2 Choosing the Right Camera or Sensors
			27.5.3 Applications of Drone Technology
		27.6 Advantages of Drone Application
		27.7 Safety and Legislation While Flying the Drone
		27.8 Rules and Regulation for Flying Drones in India
		27.9 Preparation of Drone Flight
		27.10 Image Processing
			27.10.1 Orthomosaicking
			27.10.2 Image Survey Parameters and Requisite
		27.11 Computation of Waypoint for Aerial Surveying
			27.11.1 How Many Waypoints Do you Need to Get Pictures from All My Fields?
		27.12 Need of Ground Control Application
		27.13 Image Processing Softwares for Drone Orthomosaic
		27.14 Information Obtained from Orthomosaic After Image Processing
			27.14.1 The Most Commonly Used Vegetation Indices Are Mentioned Below
		27.15 Current Studies Related to Use of Drones in Natural Resource Management Studies: Drones Application in Conservation Agri...
			27.15.1 Drones for Precision Management of Soil Fertility and Crop Productivity
			27.15.2 Scope of Drone Technology in Indian Agriculture
		References
	28: High-Throughput Estimation of Soil Nutrient and Residue Cover: A Step Towards Precision Agriculture
		28.1 Introduction
			28.1.1 Proximal Sensing
			28.1.2 Remote Sensing
		28.2 Spectral Characteristics and Remote Estimation of Different Soil Nutrients
			28.2.1 Soil N Content
			28.2.2 Soil P and K Content
			28.2.3 Soil Moisture
			28.2.4 Soil Organic Matter
		28.3 What Is Soil Residue Cover?
		28.4 Manual Soil Residue Measurement
		28.5 Spectral Properties and Remote Estimation of Soil Residue Cover
		28.6 Using Soil Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture
		28.7 Conclusion
		References
Part III: Global Perspectives
	29: Global Development in Soil Science Research: Agriculture Sensors and Technologies
		29.1 Introduction
		29.2 Precision Agriculture Overview
			29.2.1 Agricultural Sensors for Soil Chemical and Physical Properties
				29.2.1.1 Electrochemical Sensors
				29.2.1.2 Dielectric Sensors
				29.2.1.3 Mechanical Sensors
				29.2.1.4 Acoustic and Pneumatic Sensors
				29.2.1.5 Optical Sensors
		29.3 Sensor Output Applied
		29.4 Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
		29.5 Global Implication
		References
	30: Soil Science Research and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
		30.1 Brief History of Soil Science in Latin America and the Caribbean
		30.2 Land Resources: An Opportunity for Agricultural Production and Environmental Protection
		30.3 Soils of Latin America and the Caribbean in Face of Climate Change
		30.4 Strategies for Sustainable Soil Management
		30.5 Importance of Soil Strategies
		30.6 Future of Soil Science Research and Education in LAC
		References
	31: The Frontiers in Soil Science Research: An African Perspective
		31.1 Introduction
		31.2 Methodology
		31.3 Results and Discussion
			31.3.1 What Do We Know and What We Do Not?
				31.3.1.1 Land Degradation as a Challenge
				31.3.1.2 Soil Nutrient Mining and Imbalances
			31.3.2 Key Knowledge Gaps and Research Priorities
			31.3.3 Systemic Barriers
			31.3.4 What Soil Information Exist
		31.4 Implications/Conclusions
		References
	32: Improvement of Soil Quality by Solid Waste Recycling: A Global Perspective
		32.1 Introduction
			32.1.1 Adverse Impact of Improper Solid Waste Management in Ecosystem
			32.1.2 Importance of Solid Waste for Improving Soil Quality
		32.2 Generation of Solid Waste and Its Recycling in India to Global Context
		32.3 Types of Solid Wastes Suitable for Soil Quality Improvement
		32.4 Methods of Solid Waste Management in India
			32.4.1 Management Methods of Waste Related to Agricultural Purpose
		32.5 Application of Solid Waste for Soil Quality Improvement
			32.5.1 Soil Physical Properties as Affected by Application of Solid Waste
			32.5.2 Soil Chemical Properties as Affected by Application of Solid Waste
				32.5.2.1 Soil Organic Carbon
				32.5.2.2 Nutrients Availability and Nutrient Transformation
				32.5.2.3 Waste Management for Heavy Metal Immobilization
				32.5.2.4 Soil Biological Properties as Affected by Application of Solid Waste
					Soil Microbial Biomass and Diversity
				32.5.2.5 Soil Enzymatic Activity
		32.6 Policies and Schemes for Management of Solid Waste in India
		32.7 Conclusions
		References
	33: Nutrient Sufficiency Range of Soils and Plants in Singapore
		33.1 Introduction
		33.2 Nutrient Sufficiency Range
		33.3 Soil Sufficiency Range Used as Guideline for General Horticulture in Singapore
		33.4 Leaf Sufficiency Range of Selected Plants in Singapore
			33.4.1 Ornamental Plants
				33.4.1.1 Bougainvillea
				33.4.1.2 Canna
				33.4.1.3 Heliconia
				33.4.1.4 Ixora
			33.4.2 Trees/Palms
				33.4.2.1 Lagerstroemia
				33.4.2.2 Palms (Dypsis and Roystonea sp)
			33.4.3 Vegetables
				33.4.3.1 Baicai, Xiao Baicai and Bayam(Philip et al 2015)
		References
	34: Calcareous Oolitic Limestone Rockland Soils of the Bahamas: Some Physical, Chemical, and Fertility Characteristics
		34.1 Introduction
		34.2 Soil Sampling
		34.3 Soil Analysis
			34.3.1 Physical Properties
				34.3.1.1 Soil Classification: Color and Texture
			34.3.2 Chemical Properties
				34.3.2.1 Soil Phosphorus
				34.3.2.2 Soil pH
				34.3.2.3 Electrical Conductivity
				34.3.2.4 Exchangeable Bases
				34.3.2.5 Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC)
		34.4 Conclusion
		References
	35: Consequences of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Variation of Soil Properties and Food Security: An Asian Story
		35.1 Introduction
		35.2 Significance of Material and Energy Transportation into the Soil by Natural and Socio-Economic Processes
		35.3 A Brief Account of Some Anthropogenic Disturbances and the Intensity of Their Effects in Asian Subcontinents
			35.3.1 Common Land Use Practices That Affect the Soil System
				35.3.1.1 Farming
				35.3.1.2 Overgrazing
				35.3.1.3 Construction
				35.3.1.4 Mining
			35.3.2 Some Highlighted Points in Relation to Energy Consumption in Asian Countries
			35.3.3 Emerging Threats to Ecosystem and Biodiversity
			35.3.4 Pollution
		35.4 Inter-Linkage of Human Activities with Soil Properties
			35.4.1 Effect on Physical Properties
				35.4.1.1 Soil Erosion
				35.4.1.2 Compaction
				35.4.1.3 Sealing
				35.4.1.4 Waterlogging
			35.4.2 Effect on Chemical Properties
				35.4.2.1 Soil Organic Carbon Change
				35.4.2.2 Soil Contamination
				35.4.2.3 Soil Acidification
				35.4.2.4 Soil Salinization and Sodification
			35.4.3 Effect on Soil Biological Properties
				35.4.3.1 Loss of Soil Biodiversity
			35.4.4 Effect on Soil Fertility
				35.4.4.1 Nutrient Imbalance
		35.5 Case Studies in India
			35.5.1 Degraded and Wastelands of India
			35.5.2 Environmental Impacts of Tannery Industries in India
		35.6 Climate Change: An Impact of Human Disturbance
			35.6.1 General Causes of Climate Change
			35.6.2 Greenhouse Gases: Major Cause for Global Warming
			35.6.3 Direct and Indirect Effect of Climate Change
				35.6.3.1 Direct Impact on Soil Functions
				35.6.3.2 Indirect Impact on Soil Functions
		35.7 Vulnerability of Asian Countries to Climate Change
		35.8 Food Security of Asian Countries
		35.9 Adaptation Strategies for Soil Conservation
		35.10 Conclusion
		References
Part IV: Case Studies on Various Status and Practices of Soil Management: Indian Story
	36: Natural Resource Management and Conservation for Smallholder Farming in India: Strategies and Challenges
		36.1 Introduction
		36.2 Soil Management
			36.2.1 Factors Affecting the Soil Management
				36.2.1.1 Cultural Practices
				36.2.1.2 Sheet Erosion
				36.2.1.3 Rainfed Farming Systems
				36.2.1.4 Cultivation in Slope
				36.2.1.5 Bearing Capacity of Soil
				36.2.1.6 Management of Soil Structure
				36.2.1.7 Fertility Management of Soil
					Management by Crop Residue
					Addition of Organic Materials
		36.3 Challenges and Opportunity
		36.4 Water Management
			36.4.1 Methods of Irrigation
				36.4.1.1 Indigenous Method
				36.4.1.2 Water Harvesting
				36.4.1.3 Water Collection in Ditches/Ponds
				36.4.1.4 Harvesting Precipitating Water
				36.4.1.5 Roof Water Harvesting
				36.4.1.6 Rainwater Harvesting
				36.4.1.7 Drainage
		36.5 Challenges and Opportunity
		36.6 Soil Conservation
			36.6.1 Methods of Soil Conservation
				36.6.1.1 Contour Ploughing and Terrace Farming
				36.6.1.2 Runoff Control at the Boundary
				36.6.1.3 Windbreaks
				36.6.1.4 Cover Crops/Crop Rotation
				36.6.1.5 Tree Plantation Programme
				36.6.1.6 Soil Salinity Problems
				36.6.1.7 Use of Chemical Fertilizers
				36.6.1.8 The Soil Microorganisms
		36.7 Water Conservation
			36.7.1 Water Conservation in Agriculture
				36.7.1.1 Irrigation Management
				36.7.1.2 Irrigation Scheduling.
				36.7.1.3 Waste Water Recycling
				36.7.1.4 Water Recirculation in a Cooling System
				36.7.1.5 Industrial and Commercial Use of Water
				36.7.1.6 Other Strategies Include
					Rainwater Harvesting
					Natural and Artificial Regeneration of Vegetation
					Water for Sustainable Use
					Quality of Water
					Awareness Campaign
		36.8 Soil Health and Water Quality
			36.8.1 Soil Quality Indicators
				36.8.1.1 Indicator Categories
			36.8.2 Water Quality
				36.8.2.1 Problems in Irrigated Agriculture
		36.9 Soil and Water Conservation Policy
		36.10 Epilogue
		References
	37: Soil and Water Management in India: Challenges and Opportunities
		37.1 Introduction
		37.2 Enabling Policies of Soil Management in India
		37.3 Enabling Policies of Water Management
		37.4 Climate Change Impact on Soil and Water Resource in India
		37.5 Way Forward
		References
	38: Indian Fertiliser Policy: Retrospect and Prospect
		38.1 Introduction
		38.2 Fertiliser Use in Agriculture
		38.3 Indian Fertiliser Policy Regime
		38.4 Policy Retrospect
			38.4.1 Policies Regulating Fertiliser Pricing and Subsidies
			38.4.2 Policies Regulating Fertiliser Marketing and Distribution
			38.4.3 Policies Regulating Fertiliser Production and Imports
			38.4.4 Policies Ensuring Nutrient Balance in Soil
		38.5 Direct Benefit Transfer of Fertiliser Subsidies
		38.6 Fertiliser Policy: Did it Hit or Missed
		38.7 Future Prospects and Options Available
			38.7.1 Ensuring Fertiliser Availability on Time
			38.7.2 Purchasing Power Support
			38.7.3 Direct Benefit Transfer
			38.7.4 Price Parity Among Nutrients
			38.7.5 Policies for Technology Upgradation
			38.7.6 Enabling Sales in Smaller Volumes
			38.7.7 Quality Assurance
		38.8 The Concern of Environmental Cost
			38.8.1 Sustainable Way Forward
		38.9 Conclusion
		References
	39: Long-Term Fertilizer Experiments in India: Achievements and Issues for Future Research
		39.1 Introduction
		39.2 Crop Productivity
		39.3 Yield Sustainability
		39.4 Nutrient Use Efficiency
		39.5 Soil Organic Carbon (SOC)
		39.6 Available Nutrient (N, P, K, and S) Status in Soil
		39.7 Biological N2-Fixation and Addition to Soil
		39.8 Apparent P and K Balance
		39.9 Heavy Metal Status
		39.10 Biological Status of Soil
		39.11 Soil Quality
		39.12 Carbon Sequestration
		39.13 Superimposition of Treatments
			39.13.1 Reutilization of Accumulated Soil P
			39.13.2 FYM is Better Soil Amendment Than Lime for Management of Acid Soil
			39.13.3 Potassium Response in Vertisols
		39.14 Conclusion
		39.15 Issue for Future Research
		References
	40: Micronutrient Deficiency Stress in Soils of India: Tackling it to Alleviate Hidden Hunger
		40.1 Introduction
		40.2 Concept of Hidden Hunger
			40.2.1 Hidden Hunger in Plants
			40.2.2 Hidden Hunger in the Human Population
		40.3 Factors Affecting the Availability of Micronutrients to Plants
			40.3.1 Soil Related Factors
				40.3.1.1 Soil pH and Micronutrient Availability
				40.3.1.2 Soil Organic Matter and Micronutrient Availability
				40.3.1.3 Factors Affecting the Availability of Individual Micronutrients
					Zinc
					Iron
					Copper
					Manganese
					Boron
					Molybdenum
			40.3.2 Plant Factors
		40.4 The Extent of Micronutrient Deficiency Stress in Soils of India
			40.4.1 Zinc Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.2 Boron Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.3 Iron Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.4 Manganese Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.5 Copper Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.6 Molybdenum Deficiency in Soils
			40.4.7 Multimicronutrient Deficiencies in Soil
		40.5 Strategies to Tackle Micronutrients Deficiencies in Soil
			40.5.1 Fertilizer Management
				40.5.1.1 Zinc
				40.5.1.2 Boron
				40.5.1.3 Iron
				40.5.1.4 Manganese
				40.5.1.5 Copper
				40.5.1.6 Molybdenum
			40.5.2 Management Options Other than Fertilizers
		40.6 Conclusion
		References
	41: Pesticide Pollution in Soils and Sediment in India: Status, Impact and Countermeasures
		41.1 Introduction
		41.2 Pesticide Production and Consumption in India
		41.3 Entry Route and Pesticide Biogeochemistry in Soil
		41.4 Occurrence and Distribution of Pesticides in Soil and Sediment of India
			41.4.1 Pesticide Occurrence in Agricultural Soils of India
				41.4.1.1 Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Soils of Northern and Western India
				41.4.1.2 Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Soils of Southern India
				41.4.1.3 Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Soils of Northeastern and Himalayan Region of India
				41.4.1.4 Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Soils of Indian Islands
			41.4.2 Residues of Pesticides in Virgin Soil of India (Forest Soils, Wetland Soils, Soils from Unused Land or Fallow Land)
			41.4.3 Pesticide Pollution in Urban and Peri-urban and Industrial Areas of India
			41.4.4 Pesticides in Soil from Obsolete Pesticides Stores and Dumping Sites of India
			41.4.5 The Occurrence of Pesticide Pollution in Sediment from India and Associated Risk Assessment to Aquatic Ecosystems
		41.5 Pesticide in Soil and Associated Human Health Risk Assessment
		41.6 Ecological Impact of Pesticides on Soil Microbial/Enzymatic Properties
		41.7 Novel Control and Remediation Method to Countermeasure the Pesticide Pollution in Soil
		41.8 Conclusion
		References
	42: Climate-Smart Soil Management: Prospect and Challenges in Indian Scenario
		42.1 Introduction
		42.2 Climate-Smart Agriculture for Food Security
			42.2.1 What Is Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)?
			42.2.2 Principles of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
		42.3 Climate-Smart Soil
		42.4 Global Carbon Cycle and Carbon Pool
		42.5 Climate-Smart Soil Management
			42.5.1 Management of Soil Organic Carbon Pool
				42.5.1.1 Soil Carbon Sequestration
				42.5.1.2 Soil C Sequestration Via Improved Management Practices
					Land Use Management and Cropping System
					Cover Crop
					Tillage
					Nutrient Management
					Organic Farming
					Addition of Crop Residues and Mulching
					Irrigation
					Soil C sequestration via exogenous C inputs
					Addition of Bio-Energy Crops
					Priming Effect
				42.5.1.3 What Is Needed for Effective Arrangement of Soil Organic Carbon Research?
			42.5.2 Soil Management to Reduce CH4 Emissions
			42.5.3 Soil Management to Reduce N2O Emissions
			42.5.4 Potentiality of World Soil for C Sequestration and Mitigation of GHGs Emission
			42.5.5 What Is Needed for Effective Implementation of Mitigation Practices?
		42.6 Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Agriculture
		42.7 Conclusion
		References