The role of soil hydrology in soil health

Publication date: 06/08/2018
Extent: 20 pages

Contributions by: Melissa Miller and Henry Lin, Pennsylvania State University, USA

Chapter synopsis: Soil hydrology stands at the forefront of soil health due to its critical importance in regulating physical, chemical and biological processes in soils. Soil–water interactions are closely related to and create both positive and negative feedbacks with soil characteristics, landscape features and management practices that are closely tied to soil health. This chapter discusses various soil hydrologic processes and properties that influence soil health along with crop growth, ecosystem services and environmental impacts. It describes how soil physical, chemical and biological processes are often mediated by soil hydrologic conditions. These processes and related properties are discussed in this chapter in relation to soil hydrologic functions in the context of soil health and various management practices.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2017.0033.12