ABSTRACT
The dynamic interaction between soil biota and the climate (Jenny 1941) is the basis of soil functions for humans and for nature. Drastic perturbations of the soil-biota-climate nexus, by natural phenomena or anthropogenic activities, can adversely impact the provisioning of essential ecosystem services and also lead to some disservices (e.g., accelerated erosion, disruption in elemental and water cycling, energy imbalance, shift in flora and fauna). Perturbation of the nexus in agro-ecosystems is also the cause of a high import of resources such as fertilizers, pesticides, tillage, irrigation etc. Such ameliorative measures aggravate the environmental impact and footprint of agro-ecosystems. Among symptoms of drastic perturbations include the drought-flood syndrome, eutrophication and contamination of waters (e.g., algal bloom, hypoxia/anoxia of coastal waters), desertification, heat-wave, and extreme events. Anthropogenic activities are also impacting the carbon (C) cycle and the attendant global warming (Lal 2004, 2010; Jackson et al. 2017; Chapin III et al. 2009), the water cycle and the associated pedological and hydrological drought (Lal 2013), and hypoxia (Zillen et al. 2008). Therefore, a judicious and prudential management of the nexus can minimize the need for import of resources and enhance sustainability.
