ABSTRACT
In many parts of the world the per capita food production is falling due to a decline in inherent soil quality, and thus it cannot maintain a sustainable production. Faulty management practices, particularly indiscriminate application of agro chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, are some of the root causes of soil quality deterioration under intensive agricultural production systems. Soil amendments are applied to correct these problems and to restore the soil quality and maintain fertility for sustainable production. So, there is a need of studying the potentiality of alternative nutrient sources to meet the ever-increasing demand of soil amendments. At the same time, recycling of the generated wastes and utilization of low cost naturally available materials through eco-friendly approaches is a need of the hour. Therefore, strategies for utilizing such low-cost, locally available sources of soil amendments need to be developed by considering existing guidelines and regulations. Here, we have discussed the scope of soil amendments, which are not considered as standard fertilizers, but allowed in the organic production system (e.g. plant and animal by products, rock and mineral powders, seaweeds, microbes and conditioners) as potential alternatives of chemical fertilizers for sustaining the soil quality and agricultural production.
