ABSTRACT
Soil erosion and degradation are among the most neglected of the pressing environmental crises that humanity faces in the 21st century. A reorientation of conventional agricultural practices can enhance soil biology and soil health, transforming what is called “modern agriculture” into something more multifunctional through sustainable intensification that helps to feed the world, rebuild soil organic matter, and enhance human health, all at the same time. Soil degradation encompasses both erosion of the topsoil and loss of soil organic matter, which includes soil life. The area of abandoned agricultural land offers a way to estimate the extent of global land degradation. Mechanical tillage and nitrogen fertilization affect soil life and reduce soil organic matter in ways that degrade soil health. Farming practices that cultivate mycorrhizal partnerships between plants and fungi can increase crop yields, enhance micronutrient acquisition, and boost resistance to pests and pathogens.
