ABSTRACT
A Wisconsin case study is used to underscore the importance of whole-soil knowledge. Whole-soil quality in agricultural settings requires whole-soil management. Whole-soil management should begin with knowledge of the whole soil that one has to work with, not just the topsoil. This chapter shows that soil management by land users, and public programs to support land-users’ attempts to achieve sustainable soil quality, should consider the importance of connections within the whole soil profile as it changes across the landscape. Ultimately, and based on a solid scientific foundation, the research emphases pertaining to soil quality need to be translated into practical recommendations that can be applied on a farmer’s field. Specific to farmer knowledge about soil health, the Wisconsin Soil Health Program collected information from a number of interested farmers about their perspective of surface soil quality/health. A strictly pragmatic crop production view of soil neglects aspects important to maintenance of water and soil quality over many generations.
