Soil Biota - Management In Sustainable Farming Systems
The aim of the workshop on Management of the Soil
Biota in Sustainable Farming Systems, held in Adelaide,
South Australia, from 15-18 March, 1.994, was ro
provide insight into the need for, and approaches to, the
development of land use practices that capture and
exploit the beneficial activities of the soil biota and soil
biotic processes.
Attention was focussed on issues of "management"
and how the soil biota can be manipulated to make
agriculture less dependent on non-renewable resources.
These issues are relevant to primary producers in all
countries who face the multiple problems of declining
nutrient status of soils, unpredictable climate,
diminishing economic returns for crop and pasture
production and a strong public lobby calling for a
cleaner, chemical-free environment. Alternative farming
options based on the efficient management of the soil
biota, promotion of nutrient recycling and the
development of low input sustainable farming systems
are therefore very attractive.
The workshop developed four major themes:
1. Management of introduced soil organisms to
enhance plant growth and improve soil fertility
Here the focus was on methods that attempt to alter the
abundance or activity of specific groups of organisms in
the soil. This included the introduction of soil organisms to
control root diseases and promote plant growth and
organisms whose activities indirectly improve soil fertility
and soil structure. Strategies to enhance the spread and
survival of introduced soil organisms were examined.
2. Management of existing soil biota and soil biotic
processes
This theme considered the impact of soil and crop
management practices on the activities of the soil biota, on
soil organic matter, nutrient recycling and soil structure.
Strategies to integrate and improve management of these
components of the soil system (including modelling
approaches and recognition of the problems of spatial
heterogeneity) were identified.
3. Management strategies to enhance the activities of
beneficial soil biota
This theme focused on the ecology and management of
soil organisms in low input farming systems. Strategies to
improve soil quality and the synchronization of organic
resource availability, soil biota activity and plant nutrient
demand were examined.
4. Biological indicators of soil quality and crop
productivity
The concept and usefulness of indicators of soil quality
and crop productivity was examined. Soil organisms and
soil biotic properties that have potential as bioindicators
of soil quality were evaluated.
In each of these themes, contributors have provided an
up to date appraisal of current knowledge and have
defined new areas of research opportunity. These
opportunities will lead to practical gains in agricultural
productivity from management of the soil biota and soil
biotic processes. A clear message is that landusers around
the world need to become more conscious of the benefits
to be obtained from management of the soil biota in low
input, conservation farming systems.
The workshop provoked considerable interest and was
well supported by the scientific community. In addition to
this volume, which contains the 27 review papers
presented at the workshop, a proceedings of short papers
(presented as posters at the workshop) was produced. The
financial support of the sponsors, mentioned elsewhere in
this volume, created the possibility to participate for most
of the invited speakers and the production of this book. In
particular, the substantial support received from the
OECD Co-operative Research Projecr on Biological
Resource Management is gratefully acknowledged.
V.S.S.R. Gupta, P.R. Grace
C.E. Pankhurst, B.M. Doube,
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