[EBOOK] Soils Alive! Understanding and Managing Soil Biology on Tasmanian Farms, Declan McDonald, Published by State of Tasmania

There is growing interest in soil health. A number of research projects have sought to explore this concept as awareness of the importance of soil biology to the functioning of soils as ecosystems has grown. The Tasmanian project Soli Ecosystem Health Measures: An Interpretive Guide for Land Managers was developed in response to a need to understand the biological make-up of our soils, to establish some benchmarking data with regard to optimum populations of various micro- and macro-organisms, and to provide landholders with practical advice to better manage this resource. This book is the principal output from this project.

Carried out over 10 months in 2009. the project sampled a small range of land uses on the rich red soils of northern Tasmania. The project aimed to provide landholders with a useful guide to:

•    understand the importance of soil biology to sustainable agriculture;

•    improve awareness of the range and number of soil organisms on farms;

•    help identify the range of soil organisms on individual farms; and

•    provide guidance with regard to management practices that support healthy soil ecosystem function.

This book therefore attempts to provide a context for soil health by looking at soil ecosystems and how they function, providing simple descriptions of soil organisms likely to be found, guiding understanding of what may be good or bad populations of organisms, and outlining a range of management practices likely to impact both positively and negatively on soil ecosystem function.

It is very important to note that, to date, there has been very little research into soil ecosystems and soil biology - particularly in contrast to research into soil physics and soil chemistry. This is particularly so in Tasmania. However, rather than wait for years for research to provide answers to many questions about soil biology, this book aims to meet what the authors believe is a strong latent demand for improved information on sustainable soil management. It provides up-to-date information and recommendations on improving the management of the biological realm based on best available science and feedback from farmers. Farmers must however, exercise appropriate caution when trialling various approaches, and be guided by the caveats provided in the sections on management practices. It is hoped that this project and similar work will help scientific research to catch up with the notable groundswell of interest in this important area. A list of recommended reading is provided at the end of this book.

[EBOOK] Soils Alive! Understanding and Managing Soil Biology on Tasmanian Farms, Declan McDonald, Published by State of Tasmania

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