Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture: Impacts on Sustainable Soil Management

Abstract

There is a growing recognition of the fundamental importance of soils in supporting productive and sustainable agricultural systems. The term sustainable intensification is now widely used to characterise the importance of linking productivity with sustainability. This term recognises the need to maintain or increase food production without increasing the use of land or external inputs. In this chapter, we explore the concepts of sustainable intensification and soil quality and explain how these impact soils in different global regions. The economic impacts of improving soil quality are also considered.