Soil health, Soil Biology, Soilborne diseases and Sustainable Agriculture: a guide / Graqham Stirling [et..al].

Content
Chapter 1 Introduction:Soil health, Soil biology, sustainable agriculture and evidence-based information
What is soil health
What is sustainable agriculture
soil health and sustainable agriculture are inextricably linked
The role of soil organisms
The need for holistic solution to information to soil-health problems
etc

Chapter 2 Soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and key role of organic matter in promoting soil and plant health
Soil composition
Soil properties
The key role of organic matter in modifying soil properties and improving soil health
Common soil physical and chemical constraints
Concluding remarks

Chapter 3 Organisms in the soil food web and their functions
Soil biodiversity
The soil food web
Interaction between organisms in the soil food web
Ecosystem service provided by soil biota
The soil-root interface: a key site of biological activity
etc.

Chapter 4 Soilborne diseases: a major impediment to crop production
Diseases cause by Rhizoctonia
Root rot, Crown rot and vascular wilt disaeses caused by Fusariuum
Take-all of cereals caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis
Root rot and damping-off diseases caused by Pythium and Pytophthora
Pachymetra root rot of sugarcane
etc.

Chapter 5 Impact of natural enemies on soilborne pathogens
Interactions within the soil food web and their effect on soilborne pests and pathogens
Classical, inudative and conversation biological control and its relavance to siolborne pests and pathogens
Disease suppressive soils: Organic matters mediated and specific forms of suppression
Benefits and limitation of different forms of suppression
etc

Chapter 6 A practical guide to improving siol health and reducing losses from soilborn diseases
Assess soil health and identify any physical, chemical and biological constraints
Determine the main limiting factors
Identifying option for improving
Monitor soilborn pathogens and beneficial organisms
Modifying soil and crop management practices
etc

Chapter 7 Grain farming systems to improve soil health and enhancing biological suppression of soilborne diseases
Conservation agriculture; the first step in building an active, diverse and resilient soil biological community
Second-tier practices to continue the soil improvement process
Options to further improve best practice farming systems
Concluding remarks

Chapter 8 Annual and perennial pastures to improve soil health in grain-cropping system
The role of perennial pastures in improving soil health
The impact of climate and pasture spices on soil biological properties
The contribution of mixed farming systems to sustainability
Choice of pasture spices
Options for the future
etc

Chapter 9 Yield decline of sugarcane: a soil health problem overcome by modifying the farming system
The conventional sugarcane farming system
The impact of the conventional sugarcane farming system on soil health
A more sustainable sugarcane farming system on soilborn pests and pathogens
Effects of pesticides and fertilizers on biological heath of sugar cane soils
Improving soil health is a long-term process.

Chapter 10 Vegetable farming systems: The challenge of improving soil health and sustainability in an industry that demands high level of productivity
High-input vegetable production system
Possible components of more sustainable vegetable production system
Concluding remarks

Chapter 11 Options for improving soil health and minimizing losses from soilborn diseases in perennial horticultural crops
Reducing or eliminating tillage
Using cover crops to maintain ground cover
Minimizing compaction
Mulching
Organic amendment
etc

Chapter 12 Key soil health messages and practices that should be included in holistic soil improvement programs
The main messages from the book
Key practices to improve soil health and sustainability