Applications in natural resource management

Abstract Soil quality is an increasingly useful and necessary concept in the design of sustainable farming systems, at paddock, farm and catchment levels. This paper reviews the concept of soil quality, and discusses its importance to the sustainability of agroecosystems. It is generally accepted that "soil quality" be measured by an appropriate suite of characteristics that includes chemical, physical and biological indicators that focus on the functions of soil in the ecosystem. Although there may be some merit in defining soil quality with the same rigour as is used to define water quality, and applying soil quality criteria in the same way as water quality criteria, it is likely that site and purpose specific criteria will be more useful at the farm level. Research continues to determine the optimum set of soil quality indicators that are sensitive to soil quality dynamics relevant to grazing systems in the Central Tablelands of N.S.W., and can be adopted and interpreted by farmers. One such project has commenced at Orange Agricultural College ‐ The University of Sydney, and is described in detail. It is expected that this research will help provide farm managers with additional tools to assess the condition and trend of soil quality on their farms, and the impact of their decisions regarding farm design and management.