Australian farmers are searching for reliable, easily measured indicators of soil health to monitor sustainability of
their enterprises. Over the past 5 years earthworms have been promoted as indicators of soil health by some
researchers. Others have been reluctant to accept soil macrofauna in general as soil health indicators. Their reluctance
is based on the difficulty of interpreting biological data in relation to soil health as there is no clear understanding
of the links between soil macrofauna and soil health. The problem is further compounded by the inherent difficulty
in studying soil biota, inadequate experimental design, and the lack of long-term commitment to funding such studies.
This paper reflects on current research, and maps out conditions and directions for future research if the role of soil
macrofauna in soil health is to be better understood. The compilation of adequate baseline data, the appropriate
delineation of experimental plots, attention to the totality of environmental conditions including land management
practices, the consideration of impact by macrofauna other than earthworms, are some of the directions are outlined.
The challenge in the future will be to shift the emphasis of soil macrofauna research towards understanding their
function in soil processes essential to ecosystem functioning. Without this sort of experimental evidence scientists
cannot indicate to the farmer whether the soil resource is declining in quality, is stable or in a process of renewal
based on the presence or absence of certain macrofauna. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
Australian farmers are searching for reliable, easily measured indicators of soil health to monitor sustainability oftheir enterprises. Over the past 5 years earthworms have been promoted as indicators of soil health by someresearchers. Others have been reluctant to accept soil macrofauna in general as soil health indicators. Their reluctanceis based on the difficulty of interpreting biological data in relation to soil health as there is no clear understandingof the links between soil macrofauna and soil health. The problem is further compounded by the inherent difficultyin studying soil biota, inadequate experimental design, and the lack of long-term commitment to funding such studies.This paper reflects on current research, and maps out conditions and directions for future research if the role of soilmacrofauna in soil health is to be better understood. The compilation of adequate baseline data, the appropriatedelineation of experimental plots, attention to the totality of environmental conditions including land managementpractices, the consideration of impact by macrofauna other than earthworms, are some of the directions are outlined.The challenge in the future will be to shift the emphasis of soil macrofauna research towards understanding theirfunction in soil processes essential to ecosystem functioning. Without this sort of experimental evidence scientistscannot indicate to the farmer whether the soil resource is declining in quality, is stable or in a process of renewalbased on the presence or absence of certain macrofauna. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.
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