(ix) Soil Structure, like Photosynthesis is Nature’s Gift: Processes governing soil structure are as important to NPP as those affecting photosynthesis, but are much less understood. Soil structure, similar to an architectural design of a functional building, depends on stability and continuity of macro-, meso- and micropores which are the sites of physical, chemical and biological processes that support the soil’s life support functions. Site-specific sustainable land management practices tend to enhance stability and continuity of pores and voids over time and under diverse land uses.
(x) Sustainability implies Positive Trends: Sustainable land management implies an increasing trend in NPP per unit input of off-farm resources along with improvement in soil quality and ancillary ecosystem services such as increase in the ecosystem C pool, improvement in quality and quantity of renewable fresh water resources, and an increase in biodiversity. However, positive trends cannot be maintained indefinitely (Bartlett, 2005), and emphasis must be given to ecosystem resilience.
127. The importance of SLM is appropriately highlighted by the fact that if soils are not restored, crops will fail even when rains do not (Lal, 2008). Hence knowledge and information on land management is essential to the well-being of societies. But understanding the significance of land degradation is constrained by many uncertainties. It is therefore critical for all stakeholders to deepen, better coordinate and integrate ongoing efforts aimed at gathering policy relevant and action-oriented data on various aspects of land management. Only then can there be effective SLM interventions that demonstrate impact at large scales.
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