The Dynamics of Soil Quality as a Measure of Sustainable Management

This chapter defines soil quality and presents an approach to quantify both inherent and dynamic dimensions of soil quality in terms of minimum data sets and pedotransfer functions in combination with procedures and models used in statistical quality control (SQC). It also explores the concept of designing inherently sustainable land management systems combined with process quality control procedures to ensure quality performance of the management system design. There are two aspects of the dynamics of soil quality with regard to sustainable management. The first one deals with the quantification of soil quality, both in terms of magnitude and dynamics. The second deals with the design of management systems, and the process by which management systems affect soil quality, and sustainability. The chapter also recognizes the need to apply SQC concepts of design and process control of inherently sustainable management systems to provide the manager the tools needed to achieve soil quality standards of sustainability.