ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND AGRICULTURAL SOIL QUALITY: INDICATORS AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Abstract

Soil is a strategic natural resource for agricultural production, water regulation, nutrient cycling, carbon storage and biodiversity maintenance. Agricultural intensification, when not accompanied by conservation practices, may alter physical, chemical and biological attributes and compromise essential soil functions. This article analyzes, through an integrative literature review, the contribution of environmental management and conservation practices to maintaining soil quality and soil health in agricultural systems, with emphasis on the Brazilian Cerrado. The selected literature indicates that robust assessments should combine physical indicators, such as bulk density, porosity, aggregate stability, penetration resistance and water dynamics; chemical indicators, such as pH, soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and nutrient availability; and biological indicators, including microbial biomass, respiration and enzyme activity. Soil organic carbon emerges as a cross-cutting indicator because of its relationship with structure, water retention, nutrient cycling and microbial activity. Recent evidence from the Cerrado indicates that integrated systems, reduced soil disturbance, residue retention, crop diversification and adequate organic matter management can improve different dimensions of soil health. Environmental management can therefore support planning, monitoring and decision-making in rural systems, provided that indicators are interpreted in an integrated, region-specific and function-oriented manner.