If the connection between ecosystem services and human well-being is so strong, why do people behave in an apparently irrational manner by undermining factors necessary for their own good? There are several possible reasons. Many ecosystem services, such as a benign climate, soil fertility, or the flow of water in rivers, are easily taken for granted, especially by urban people in industrial economies. Many people tend to think of the supply of these services as happening automatically and eternally, or they are unaware of their importance to them.

http://www.millenniumassessment.org/documents/document.341.aspx.pdf

http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/59/3/223.full

Dear Anoop! Firstly, thank you. Thank you for your attention to an issue that is long overdue. The soil is vulnerable. Soil is difficult to resist the pressure of modern technologies, the possibility of depleting the soil, accumulated for centuries. We need to consider soil cultivation technology, preservation of fertility. In fact, it is a harmony between man and the soil.

Vladimir

PS. Please have a look an Attachment

I feel, somewhere we have failed to address the role of soil as a eco-system service provider, otherwise why do have emerging problems like nutrient mining fluctuating crop response, decline in productivity, evetualy failure of farming system with a given land use. Our both the colleagues Dr Kundu and Dr Valdimar are correct.

Yes it seems!!

*Soil serves by sustaining the huge burden of mane made and natural articulations with its " Bearing Capacity"

*It provides nourishment to the crops by allowing them deep rooted in its fathoms.

*It allows water to seep through and retains it at a depth, to replenish water to man kind.

Yes, mother earth is being abused !

Deep drilling, chemical ingress, effluent seepage, are standing testimony to this.

Governmental and NGOs should stand up and protect the soil from such invasions with iron hand!!!

Very interesting question Dr. Srivastava. Lets first elaborate the kind of ecosystem services soil can provide?

Dear all,

If we say, in the Czech Republic, "family silver", we think something very valuable. It is something , what people protect after generations and each generation has to respect it. Family silver is something rare, unique and precious, that one learns humility. Our children should be interested in what their grandparents like to tell and what they show.

SOIL IS OUR FAMILY SILVER.

Best regards, Bozena

Bozena, good point you added. How does two broad ecosystems behave in terms of various services?

One of important ecosystem services of soil is being home for some animals.

But considering that the main ecosystem service of soil is being the substrate for growing different plants, I don't see how protecting and recovering the soil for pure ecologic purposes can be much different from protecting and recovering it for agricultural purposes that is already practiced.

Dear Anoop Kumar Srivastava , www . Researchgate @ Friends,

Soil Ecosystem system is the very Basic one to develop Agricultural Field in massive type of Crops cultivation , Huge Water storage system , Water carrying system in different areas , Different soil type having Load bearing capacity , Different Type of soil Mixing to application of  agricultural field to get more productivity and In construction Industry basic test in all soil like type of soil , load bearing capacity of soil , soil   ' Ph ' Value , soil repose angle must be done initial .

Soil system is Main role to prevent Global Warming however from the Soil moisture( water ) Evaporation will be happened and ( water ) soil through plantation Transpiration will be happened , So this Evapo-transpiration its very Help to prevent .

Then grow of Tree in the nation Level  (like city , village , Road ways , rail ways government reserve Lands etc etc ) areas in 15.00 mts intervals must be provided . Perhaps Cross over the Buildings ,that comes on have to be made on the building according to make the safe load Design Facility .

$$$$$ " Citizen Make Good Built-Environment in Every Nation , Save the World " $$$$$   

How can you differentiate the natural ecosystem and managed ecosystem?

Abhishek, how will you distinguish the natural ecosystem from managed ecosystem. Its true there is lesser biodiversity in managed ecosystem but carrying capacity of natural ecosystem is comparatively more.

Thank you Dr. Kumar for uploading another brain storming but of practical importance question. Soil was the first medium on this earth which started helping humans not only providing support and shade (by plants supported by soil) but also by providing nutrition not to only plants but to humans themselves. However, in the early times humans just took soil as the store house of nutrients that will never finish. But when symptoms of deficiencies started appearing they became more careful but yet not every where. We started unknowingly/knowingly degrading it. Unfortunately, by the time we became careful, a lot of loss had already occurred. Our colleagues have differentiated in between ecosystems in a very good way.

My reply to set of sub-questions is as under.

*Is it not true that increasing menace of land degradation ( Irrespective of causal factors) , has opened  another role of soil as  ecosystem service provider?

Yes, land degradation has become a permanent feature and handling with it and subsequent sustaining is a continuous management system.

* What are the  possible ecosystem service , we expect through  soil physical , chemical and biological properties , either in isolation or in combination ?.

Specializations in soil science like Soil Fertility, Soil Physics, Soil Salinity and Soil Microbiology are tacking soil problems in isolation and as if separate ecosystems. That is why solving one problem is creating problems in other allied fields.

* What is the carrying capacity of soil , and how does it relate to ecosystem service ?

Carrying capacity of soil is a relative term. It may be in relation to plants, animals and humans. It means how many plant species or animal species or number of humans per unit it can sustain successfully. 

* How would you define soil health to differentiate with soil quality in terms of ecosystem service ?

Soil health is a quantum of different soil qualities.

* Do you feel , ecosystem service out of a soil narrates the soil health better than defined set of soil properties or they  simply go hand-in-hand?

Ecosystem is a bigger term that do not include soil properties merely but how these are part of the bigger ecosystem of which plants, animals and many other are a part.

* Can we define  ecosystem service of a given soil  in spatial and temporal  scales?

Yes.

Have we failed to address the role of soil as ecosystem service provider? 

We emphasized soil properties only but did not considered the whole system as one ecosystem.

Let me respond to everyone. You are right  Dr Kundu . Thats the reason , such exclusive role of soil , we have so comprehensively forgotten , with the result , the problems , we all are facing are before all of us.  No doubt , human beings have still greater role  ot play to manage the ecosystem as  a sustained service provider for atleast  for fuel, fodder , food  ... Well said . 

Abhishek , your responses are always very useful and give everyone lot of opportunity to read so relevant and thoughtful literature . Hope to see some exciting discussion in next few days. 

Vladimir , you nailed the question very nicely . We hardly care about evaluating a technology  keeping in mind the  ecosystem changes that will be brought about through intervention of a  technology . I agree with your excellent point of view. Hope , we find more discussion on this issue. 

Well said Dr Jayaram . but , unfortunately , we have yet not quantified the contribution of  soil physical , chemical or biological properties in sustenance of ecosystem . However , some headways have been made to look at microbial diversity vis-a-vis ecosysytem changes  , but this is not all..for sure..

Yes , Anna , i endorse your remarks in full agreement . You cant overlook the minor animals (visible or non-visible with naked eye , they contribute so handsomely towards the stability of a  given ecosystem ) .Ecology and  agriculture , as approach , there is distinct difference , since in latter case , we emphasise more towards production with productivity and in the process, forget the ecology . This is where we miss the whole ploy , perhaps..

Ponkumar , i agree with you . That is why , we say , what is carrying capacity of soil in terms of sustaining the crop load on long term basis , so that tomorrow , whole ecosystem is not irrepairably damaged?

Dr Deka , for sure , we need to define natural ecosystem from managed ecosystem to manage both of them not with the same rider scale.  . This is what , perhaps , you want say , good point . 

Thanks Dr Nazir for excellent response , so elaborately uploaded in a methodical manner , appreciate it . I am in total agreement with  all your remarks, various disciplines of Soil Science do not interface  with each other , with the result , ecosystem service of soil is always under-mined discussion . Dr Nazir and other colleagues, how do you assign relative importance to different soil properties if we have to define the intensity of ecological service  offered by a  soil , i am more willing to look at  soil properties other  than biological properties?

How will you define carrying capacity of a soil in terms of ecosystem service ? Is it the carbon sequestration capacity or something more?

 Friends , let me add few excerpts  from the chapter of Dr Esteille J. Dominati  about the soil as ecosystem service provider . Hope , you will like it . Here , it goes:

The concepts of natural capital, ecological infrastructure, and ecosystem services are reviewed for soils and managed landscapes. Translating theoretical frameworks and insights addressing soil functioning into operational models and tools for resource management remains a challenge. Six general principles (steps) of a new methodology for quantifying soil ecosystem services arepresented: differentiate soil services from the supporting processes; identify the key soil properties and processes behind each soil service; distinguish natural capital from added or built capital; identify where and how external drivers affect natural capital stocks; analyse the impact of degradation processes on soil natural capital; base any economic valuation on measured proxies. The methodology is then demonstrated for a pastoral soil under dairy use. The methodology and examples presented here comprise a work in progress but represent an advance in defi ning and quantifying soil ecosystem services. Finally, applications of an ecosystems approach to resource management are discussed, including challenges and future options. The development of technologies for land use should, for example, switch from overcoming limitations to investing in ecological infrastructure that will increase the natural capital of soil and enhance the provision of ecosystem services.

Very informative piece of information about soil eco-system service Dr Srivastava. I appreciate your efforts. 

Let me toss up another issue relating the on-going discussion . why do we over-stress the soil microbiology compared to soil physics or soil chemistry/fertility , while dealing with  soil as ecosystem service provider..?

That’s wrong. I think when you talk about soil as ecosystem, it must be  soil related all disciplines. Soil as a given ecosystem needs to be looked as a syndicate of so many related disciplines. No doubt microbes have much greater role to play to impart stability to a ecosystem.

Dr Deka , i still remember an excellent response from  Dr Nazir who advocated towards the interfacing of other disciplines with Soil Science . Comments of Dr Kundu , Dr Vladimir , Abhishek ... were equally in tune with what you are saying . I got one review paper by Adhikari and Hartemink published in Geoderma (  2016,262: 101-111) worth reading and so pertinent here . Let me add some excerpts here :

Soil plays a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. In the 1990s ecosystem services (ES) research focused on developing the concept and framework and only a few studies linked soil properties to ecosystem services. This study reviews the literature on the relationship between soils and ecosystem services and aims to contribute to the scientific understanding on soil and ecosystem services and their interrelations. Most studies have focused on provisioning and regulating ES relating to soil physico-chemical properties. Cultural services had only a few studies, and supporting services were mostly related to soil physico-chemical and biological properties. The number of ES papers increased rapidly after 2000 and in the past 5 years, regulating services such as carbon sequestration, climate and gas regulations, were commonly studied. Once the concept was established in the 1990s, studies focusing on the assessment, valuation, and payments of services became more prominent. Most soil-ES research is published in Geoderma. Soil scientists seems to be hesitant to use the term ‘ecosystem services’ even if their research is devoted to linking soils to ecosystem services. We suggest that future ES research should focus on exploring soil functional diversity of soil biota and the spatial aspects of soil properties to lower level ecosystem services (e.g., water purification, gene pool, and climate regulation). Soil scientists should engage professionals from other disciplines to further promote the contribution of soils to ecosystem services delivery and human well-being. ES soil studies could be used in local and national policy development and program on natural resource use and management.

Hope , you will like it . 

Thanks Abhishek , hope , we can get more like this to sensitize our friends on this issue. 

Let me add some more interesting piece of work by by D.A.Neher , Agroforestry Systems, 1999: 45: 159-185. , worth reading . Some excerpts as below: 

Modern agriculture operates in a ‘paradigm of ignorance.’ This concept is appropriate for the discipline of soil ecology, which has been recognised as a scientific discipline for only 20 years. Some havelabelled soil ecology as a ‘last frontier’ . About 10% of soil species have been identified . Of the world species, insects, fungi and nematodes are three groups that have not been identified fully . Our knowledge of soil organisms has been limited by our ability to extract organisms from soil efficiently and by an ability to appropriately identify juvenile stages. Furthermore, microbiology and soil biology are often ignored by ecologists. Consequently, modern studies of soil and sediment ecology are several steps behind those of other subdisciplines of ecology. Many aspects of decomposer ecology are not well characterised for terrestrial soil or sediments in lakes, streams or oceans. Soil and sediment ecologists are still completing the taxonomy and systematics of soil organisms, revealing life history strategies, and just beginning to understand relationships between organisms and their contribution to ecosystem

function.

  Soil organisms play principal roles in several ecosystem functions, i.e. promoting plant productivity, enhancing water relations, regulating nutrient mineralisation, permitting decomposition, and acting as an environmental buffer. Agricultural soils would more closely resemble soils of natural ecosystems if management practices would reduce or eliminate cultivation, heavy machinery, and general biocides; incorporate perennial crops and organic material; and synchronise nutrient release and water availability with plant demand. In order to achieve these goals, research must be completed to develop methods for successful application of organic materials and associated micro-organisms, synchronisation of management practices with crop and soil biota phenology, and improve our knowledge of the mechanisms linking species to ecosystem processes.

Dr. Kumar has indicated  and well recommended a field of research. Yes, we have to take soil as one ecosystem service provider as a whole. 

Thanks Dr Nazir for your remarks. Indeed , it is  an exicting area of research . And , more interestingly , to my mind , soil as a ecosystem service provides explains  the enigma of soil quality in functional mode  much better than soil health. However , many researchers still believe , soil health and soil quality are synonymous to each other.... I, therefore , invite your comments on this issue. 

Thanks Abhishek  , i have no words , you have such rich Pandora box  , appreciate it  by all means . Let me also read all of these PDFs.  Hopefully , our learned  colleagues will thoroughly enjoy reading such  rich materials dissecting the subject so effectively  from all angles. . 

"Why do we over-stress the soil microbiology compared to soil physics or soil chemistry/fertility, while dealing with soil as ecosystem service provider..?"

Macro plants, animals and microorganisms are one of the main factors in forming chemical composition of soil, making it fertile. Also they affect the texture and structure of soil that also influences its chemical cycles (including reaction on contamination) and water purification. We can not talk of soil when excluding biological component.

About managed and natural soil ecosystems: if one can organise it, it would be good to study soil in a wild area, that will be soon regulary used for agriculture, and then continue to study it. It could be compared as relatively natural soil ecosystem and relatively managed soil ecosystem (and it would be the same ecosystem, so other factors almost excluded).

Thanks Abhishek once again  for doing yeomans  academic service parallel to soils ecosystem service . Hopefully , our colleagues will cherish these links on the subject , and find good academic engagement as weekend affair...

Thanks Anna for adding some thoughtful issues on the whole issue , and raising the quality bar of the whole discussion . Yes , you are dead right , we cant afford to analyse soils  ecological utility without considering the soil  microorganisms. i fully  endorse your opinion , the managed ecosystem works more like a natural ecosystem after few years of intervention of technology . Researches have ably proved this fact , however it remains to be seen , whether or not , the sustainability  defining  parameters  of two ecosystems will vary accordingly...?

But soil ecological features emerge out of combination of physical and chemical properties of soil collectively favoring the microbial properties to flourish in natural or managed ecosystem.

Dr. Anoop,

Thanks for your invitation to participate in the discussion of the topic, to which I do not have wisdom and not even required experience. This was well taken care of in old days when there was less load on soil ecosystem. In my view, the scientific community is always concerned and is working on this issue, has required wisdom. Do we need more support in terms of stronger policy enforcement and community participation?

prof, In my view without soil ecosystem is incomplete. The soil has a main role in ecosystem by providing a medium for plants, microorganisms etc. If we exempt the soil from it so we should have to provide a medium for these living creatures.

Soil Ecology is a complex study and I think we cannot just take it apart from ecosystem.

Good Principles are ways of life.

Laws are more or less dictum, that are to be observed and followed and obeyed.

Every system has its limitation so the soil. We never consider this aspect and exploited it for our good without giving back anything to it. Soil is the basis of our life  because it support life of all being on earth. It is needed  to protected, preserved and maintained for continuity of life on earth. 

Yes, Raj! you highlighted the importance of soil and tackling with its degradation. It is time now that every one should be highly vigilant.

Thanks to your all  for you inputs , the horrific truth about  allowed agricultural herbicides  specific  " glyphosate " in oure food chain  , I will monitoring thad issue , for one protection within society / environment ! So fare USA / Canada is one limed spreading of  " glyphosate " allowed ,  in Europe for 7 years spread of glyphosate is allowed . 

I am so sorry friends , i had to leave the discussion in the middle , and could not join  for last few days...Thanks Dr Jayaram , Sharma , Abhishek ( as usual ), Nazir , Peter ..some stimulating responses. But one thing is sure , soil has its own limitation driven by the genetic properties.  It is our onus , to turn soil with limited life to limitless life , only when it is sustained to serve in multitude to society on one hand and continue its own health without undergoing any kind of degradation , whether physical , chemical or biological , so that soil and environment continue to work in tandem , much to the benefit of mankind for any posterity  ....

I am in full agreement with you Abhishek . Thats the  way,  various civilizations like Indus valley, Amazon , Nile... they all were dictated by soil fertility and associated water availability .  Fantastic attachment for further reading and conceptualizing ..

Another very interesting feedback , Abhishek for our friends following the whole discussion on the issue . Hope , all of them will enjoy your  capacity of  investigative responses...no doubt about that Abhishek. Thanks once again.  

Can you please cite some examples linking soil degradation to loss of civilization in Indian context . Its soil alone or water availability as well, Abhishek.

I very strongly feel if a cropping system is sustainable on a given soil; it’s the biggest ecological service soil as finite resource can offer.

Thank you Raj for nice references.

Thanks Abhishek for useful links. Soil ecology is most neglected subject and hardly addressed except in forest Ecological studies..? To transform soil as a wholesome commodity, such studies are mandatory in terms of production sustainability.

We also need streamline some concrete parameters of evaluating soil ecological services. Will these be different under diverse cropping sequence?

Thank you Raj for referring new links which will be highly useful for researchers and of high relevance to current discussion.

This is the reason, we stress so much on the suitable land use, but if a given land is sustainable, probably soil as ecological service also takes into account. But again the relevant criteria we need to define.

I think of three criteria: dynamics of productivity, change in quality of local groundwater, suitability of the product for consumption (the degree of contamination by radiation, heavy metals, etc.).

With discussion such as this, another issue emerges as how can translate the ecosystem service of soil into a sellable and measurable product...friends

Thanking all my friends, let me toss up,another very pertinent  issue related to on-going discussion . 

Can we earn carbon credits through better use of soil as ecosystem service provider,  similar to lines to suitable cropping sequence ..?

Soil evaluation is part of "land evaluation", which is studied by economic science. You can read these links for example.

http://www.fao.org/nr/land/land-policy-and-planning/eval/en/

http://www.fao.org/docrep/X5648E/X5648E00.htm

Economists don't count all ecological services directly but often they are taken into account when someone is buying land for himself. So we can say that relative cost of land in one region or another is a simple criterium.

Thanks Abhishek , as usual , some mind boggling PDfs for our learned colleagues on this issue , which has produced so uch of useful discussion .Infact , crop -based   agro-ecosystems can  ensure effective action in CO2 fixation encouraging the process of carbon storage on the organic matter of the soil. Starting from the assumption that a different and more “carbon oriented” management of system  could represent a promising way to increase the carbon stored in agricultural land. Further, it is  very interesting to learn about the  possibility to implement a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme to increase the provision of carbon sink by different crops or copping systems in a farming system mode ..? Results, suggest that an output-based payment, though more environmentally efficient, could not be enough to incentivise farmers to join the PES, as the payment per hectare might be lower using PES. More similar efforts are needed . The above PDFs will surely  throw some useful light on the issue. In redressal of such  issue , perennial framework of the crops is more useful than the annual crops , in addition to system management . 

.

Thanks Abhishek once again .  Your concern is very genuine . But our concern is through twin issues, How can an improvement in soil microbial load add to active pool of soil carbon stock , and how can we regulate the nutrient dynamism through labile pool of carbon without depleting the stock of non-labile pool of carbon ..?

Thanks Abhishek for consistently excellent discussion on many of interlinking issues to soil as ecological service provider. You are absolutely right , biochar is very potent source of carbon , both as an amendment and nutrient source  . Studies carried out  at CSIRO , Australia showed biochar has excellent carbon stability index compared to many of the traditionally used organic manures/composts. Earlier on same platform , we  had some excellent discussion about the biochar. But , this could be one very promising source of expanding the capacity of soil as a ecosystem service provider..?

Abhisek, role of biochar we have thoroughly debated with some excellent inputs from our RG friends. What is more important here to look at soils ability to sustain the productivity on one hand and offer service to safe guard the given ecosystem on the other hand.

Well said Dr Deka . Thats the very purpose of initiating such a massive discussion where we all are participating so heavily without any distraction . Lets see what kind of  further responses accrue ....

 We have very litttle debated on the necessity of having the criteria for soil as ecosystem service provider . infact , the interconnection between soil functions and the ecosystem gained attention by scientists in the late 1970s . In 2006, the EU Soil Framework introduced seven ecological, social and economic soil functions to be accounted for in land management practice, A Multi-Criteria Index for ecological evaluation of tropical agriculture in southeastern Mexico was suggested by 

Esperanza Huerta , Christian Kampichler, Susana Ochoa-Gaona, Ben De Jong, Salvador Hernandez-Daumas, Violette Geissen (2014http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112493). Find below interesting PDfs for further  reading on this issue. Hope , you will like them. 

 Some stunning PDfs Abhishek , your ability  to match  with the  literature is simply matchless.  I am trying to highlight few of issues from these PDFs for our colleagues to let them quickly run through the content .

Agricultural ecosystems are actively managed by humans to optimize the provision of food, fiber, and fuel. These ecosystem services from agriculture, classified as provisioning services by the recent Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, depend in turn upon a web of supporting and regulating services as inputs to production (e.g., soil fertility and pollination). Agriculture also receives ecosystem dis-services that reduce productivity or increase production costs (e.g., herbivory and competition for water and nutrients by undesired species). The flows of these services and dis-services directly depend on how agricultural ecosystems are managed and upon the diversity, composition, and functioning of remaining natural ecosystems in the landscape. Managing agricultural landscapes to provide sufficient supporting and regulating ecosystem services and fewer dis-services will require research that is policy-relevant, multidisciplinary and collaborative. This paper focuses on how ecosystem services contribute to agricultural productivity and how ecosystem dis-services detract from it. We first describe the major services and dis-services as well as their key mediators. We then explore the importance of scale and economic externalities for the management of ecosystem service provision to agriculture. Agricultural ecosystems are actively managed by humans to optimize the provision of food, fiber, and fuel. These ecosystem services from agriculture, classified as provisioning services by the recent Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, depend in turn upon a web of supporting and regulating services as inputs to production (e.g., soil fertility and pollination). Agriculture also receives ecosystem dis-services that reduce productivity or increase production costs (e.g., herbivory and competition for water and nutrients by undesired species). The flows of these services and dis-services directly depend on how agricultural ecosystems are managed and upon the diversity, composition, and functioning of remaining natural ecosystems in the landscape. Managing agricultural landscapes to provide sufficient supporting and regulating ecosystem services and fewer dis-services will require research that is policy-relevant, multidisciplinary and collaborative. This paper focuses on how ecosystem services contribute to agricultural productivity and how ecosystem dis-services detract from it. We first describe the major services and dis-services as well as their key mediators. We then explore the importance of scale and economic externalities for the management of ecosystem service provision to agriculture. (Agricultural ecosystems are actively managed by humans to optimize the provision of food, fiber, and fuel. These ecosystem services from agriculture, classified as provisioning services by the recent Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, depend in turn upon a web of supporting and regulating services as inputs to production (e.g., soil fertility and pollination). Agriculture also receives ecosystem dis-services that reduce productivity or increase production costs (e.g., herbivory and competition for water and nutrients by undesired species). The flows of these services and dis-services directly depend on how agricultural ecosystems are managed and upon the diversity, composition, and functioning of remaining natural ecosystems in the landscape. Managing agricultural landscapes to provide sufficient supporting and regulating ecosystem services and fewer dis-services will require research that is policy-relevant, multidisciplinary and collaborative. This paper focuses on how ecosystem services contribute to agricultural productivity and how ecosystem dis-services detract from it. We first describe the major services and dis-services as well as their key mediators. We then explore the importance of scale and economic externalities for the management of ecosystem service provision to agriculture. (Zhang et al. 2007, Ecological Economics 64: 253-260).

These ecological  services are not only essential to ecosystem function but also a critical resource for the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems. Research opportunities and gaps related to methodological, experimental and conceptual approaches that may be helpful to address the challenge of linking soil biodiversity and function to the provision of ecosystem services

and land productivity are discussed. These include: 1) integration of spatial variability research in soil ecology and a focus on ‘hot spots’ of biological activity, 2) using a selective functional group approach to study soil biota and function, 3) combining new and existingmethodological approaches that link selected soil organisms, the temporal and spatial dynamics of their function, and their contribution to the provision of selected ‘soil based' ecosystem services, 4)

using understanding about hierarchical relationships to manage soil biota and function in cropping systems, 5) using local knowledge about plants as indicators of soil quality, remote sensing and GIS technologies, and plant-soil biota interactions to help understand the impacts of soil biota at landscape scale, and 6) developing land quality monitoring systems that inform land users about their land's ecosystem service performance, improve capacities to predict and adapt to environmental changes, and support policy and decision-making.(Barrios 2007, Ecological Economics , 64: 269-285).

Taking into account existing trade-offs between ecosystem services (ES) at the farm scale and the dependence of multiple ES on processes that take place at the landscape scale, long-term preservation of multifunctional landscapes must be a priority. Studies carried out from such perspective, and those that develop appropriate indicators, could provide useful tools for integrating ES in landscape planning. In this study we propose a new integrative environmental indicator based on the ES provided by the landscape and named “multiple ecosystem services landscape index” (MESLI). Because synergies and trade-offs between ES are produced at regional or local levels, being different from those perceived at larger scales, MESLI was developed at municipality level. Furthermore, in order to identify main drivers of change in ES provision at the landscape scale an analysis of the relationship between the environmental and the socioeconomic characteristics of the municipalities was carried out. The study was located in the Basque Country and the results demonstrated that the MESLI index is a good tool to measure landscape multifunctionality at local scales. It is effective evaluating landscapes, distinguishing between municipalities based on ES provision, and identifying the drivers of change and their effects. This information about ES provisioning at the local level is usually lacking; therefore, MESLI would be very useful for policy-makers and land managers because it provides relevant information to local scale decision-making.(Rodriguez et al 2015 Environmental Manag. 147: 152-163).

Hope , you will apppreciate  the efforts. 

Thanks Abhishek for appreciating . Such lively and fruitful discussion has always helped to dissecting the issue so effectively . And , infact , this is the very purpose of such effective team of researchers who are so willingly participating . Hope  to get some more useful feedback on the on-going discussion . 

Ecosystem services (ES), the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, support people around the world. These include, inter alia, provisioning of food and fibre, regulating and provisioning of water, soil productivity, and use of natural areas for recreation or spiritual purposes. Furthermore, ES contribute to national economies. This contribution is not usually accounted for in national

economies, partly because the financial benefits of many ES cannot be measured directly. Nevertheless, most ES can be measured through indicators and current research showsthat they are being degraded. According to the World Resources Institute  and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment . Natural  ecosystems are declining and ES are being used unsustainably around the world. The recognition of the urgent need to safeguard ES has led to the establishment of new policies, as well as the inclusion of ES in existing policies around the world.

 Examples of indicators used for  various ecosystem services include:  Ecosystem services( Secondary Indicators as Aesthetic enjoyment Distance to Scenic site),Protected areas (Air Quality Regulation Deposition velocity

Pollutant concentration,Tree cover), Biological Control 9Pest density) ,Climate Regulation (Above ground biomass ,Below ground biomass ,Forest biomass

Land cover ,NPP ,Nutrient flux ,Soil carbon), Erosion prevention Erodibility(

Land Use ,Slope ,Soil characteristics,Soil retention), Vegetation map

Food provision Climatological parameters(Crop yield,Land cover, ,Livestock

NPP), Genetic Resources( Land cover), Inspiration for culture, art and design (Land cover, landscape , Land value), Lifecycle maintenance Above ground biomass, Lifecycle maintenance ,Total Maintenance of Genetic Diversity ,Land cover, Maintenance of soil fertility Earthworm(Land cover, Litter, Nutrient retention, Soil characteristics),Medicinal Resources (Land cover), Moderation of extreme events Annual flood(Flood plain, Hazard), Moderation of extreme events , Pollination( Cost of bees, Crop yield,Habitat), Raw materials( Reeds cutting),Recreation and tourism Accessibility(Accommodation,Cultural heritage,

Fish abundance,Flower viewing,Footpaths,urban green space,Visitors numbers),Regulation of water flows Ground water(Nutrient retention,Precipitation,Sediment retention,Soil characteristics,Stream flow,

Topography,Waste treatment (Human excretory,Nutrient deposition

Urea price),Water provision( Evapotranspiration,Ground water,Litter containment,Population density,Precipitation,Quick flow,River salinity (Source : Benis Egos and his team , 2012, Reports EUR 25456 EN)

Thanks Abhishek once  again for many useful feedbacks , worth reading all of them . In order to evaluate the changes in ecosystem where soil is a part of it , we need a clear cut criteria , probably these criteria are too speculative right now , very often fail to evaluate the changes in ecosystem at soil -crop interaction level . Resultantly , we still continue to evaluate the changes ecosystem at gross level , with the result , we very often fail to sustain the productivity level that we have been harvesting in the past , or in other words , fail to break the yield barrier. Lets have most simplified version of criteria ,easy to implement and precisely evaluate the any possible changesin ecosystem . Why do we have nutrient mining at such an alarming rate ?. Globally more than 60% soils are sick of one or the other nutrients , why so.. if our criteria are so  robust and comprehensive ?

Yes Dr Srivastava I agree with you. Somewhere our current approach of soil fertility management is desirable from this angle.

Let me share with the content of work reviewed by Barrios . Infact , the PDf was attached by Vladimir A. Kulchetsky , somehow it could not be highlighted , the way it deserves, an excellent piece of information . Here it goes the best part of work by Barrios; 

The soil environment is likely the most complex biological community. Soil  organisms are extremely diverse and contribute to a wide range of ecosystemservices that are essential to the sustainable function of natural and managed ecosystems. The soil organism community can have direct and indirect impacts on land productivity. Direct impacts are those where specific organisms affect crop yield immediately. Indirect effects include those provided by soil organisms participating in carbon and nutrient cycles, soil structure modification and food web interactions that generate ecosystem services that ultimately affect productivity. Recognizing the great biological and functional diversity in the soil and the complexity of ecological interactions it becomes necessary to focus in this paper on soil biota that have a strong linkage to functions which underpin ‘soil based’ ecosystem services. Selected organisms from different functional groups (i.e.microsymbionts, decomposers, elemental transformers, soil ecosystem engineers, soil-borne pest and diseases, and microregulators) are used to illustrate the linkages of soil biota and ecosystem services essential to life on earth as well as with those associated with the provision of goods and the regulation of ecosystem processes. These services are not only essential to ecosystem function but also a critical resource for the sustainable management of agricultural ecosystems. Research opportunities and gaps related to methodological, experimental and conceptual approaches that may be helpful to address

the challenge of linking soil biodiversity and function to the provision of ecosystem services and land productivity are :

@ Integration of spatial variability research in soil ecology and a focus on ‘hot spots’ of biological activity,

@ Using a selective functional group approach to study soil biota and function.

@Combining new and existing methodological approaches that link selected soil organisms, the temporal and spatial dynamics of their function, and their contribution to the provision of selected ‘soil based' ecosystem services,

@Using understanding about hierarchical relationships to manage soil biota and function incropping systems.

@ using local knowledge about plants as indicators of soil quality, remote

sensing and GIS technologies, and plant-soil biota interactions to help understand the impacts of soil biota at landscape scale, and 6) developing land quality monitoring systems that inform land users about their land's ecosystem service performance, improve capacities to predict and adapt to environmental changes, and support policy and decision-making.

Hope , all of you following  this discussing will appreciate the whole content , friends. 

Thanks Abhishek .  You broke your killing silence with a thunder , unlike invisible mangers of soil fertility , the whirlpool of microbial world. the magic of microbial world is surely far beyong our imagination . Despite having information about hardly 1% of total soil microbial diversity ,  we are able to inflict so many changes in soil , both inside and outside , called ecological service as a common name. 

Excellent links , you have provided Abhishek , i simply wonder , how come you have develop such a nack of generating so much relevant literature in such a short time . Let me pick up some interesting points from these links for the benefit of our friends who are following the discussion : 

Soil is the foundation on which the house of terrestrial biodiversity is built. Without robust soil ecosystems, the world’s food web would be in trouble. To understand more, scientists recently embarked on what they call the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative to assess what is known about soil life, pinpoint where it is endangered and determine the health of the essential ecosystem services that soil provides.

The single greatest leverage point for a sustainable and healthy future for the seven billion people on the planet is arguably immediately underfoot: the living soil, where we grow our food.Since the 1970s, there have been soil microbes for sale in garden shops, but most products were hit-or-miss in terms of actual effectiveness, were expensive, and were largely limited to horticulture and hydroponics. Due to new genetic sequencing and production technologies, we have now come to a point where we can effectively and at low cost identify and grow key bacteria and the right species of fungi and apply them in large-scale agriculture. We can produce these "bio fertilizers" and add them to soybean, corn, vegetables, or other crop seeds to grow with and nourish the plant. We can sow the "seeds" of microorganisms with our crop seeds and, as hundreds of independent studies confirm, increase our crop yields and reduce the need for irrigation and chemical fertilizers.The "Green Revolution" was driven by a fear of how to feed massive population growth. It did produce more food, but it was at the cost of the long-term health of the soil. And many would argue that the food it did produce was progressively less nutritious as the soil became depleted of organic matter, minerals, and microorganisms. Arden Andersen, a soil scientist and agricultural consultant turned physician, has long argued that human health is directly correlated to soil health.

Healthy soil can prevent human disease. Valley fever is found in the southwest United States and is caused by a fungus that becomes airborne when soil dries out and is inhaled. It is rapidly increasing. The soil system also plays what is thought to be a key, if poorly understood, role in the spread of cholera, fungal meningitis and other diseases, which live part of their life cycle in the soil.

New technologies that enable scientists to study the genes of soil microbes and to track microscopic amounts of carbon and nitrogen as they pass through the soil ecosystem have provided leaps in the understanding of soil ecology. But the more scientists learn, the more they realize how little they know.

Hope , these excerpts will enrich your understanding on the subject . Please say thanks to Abhishek , who takes so much of pains...no doubt... 

I feel in order to utilize soil as ecosystem service provider, it is very important to divert from chemicalised agronomic mindset to ecological frame of mind. This is most important.

Thanks Abhishek , you are always welcome in any form ..

Dr Deka , good point . While diverting your mindset towards such paradigm shift , we need to keep an eye towards quality production as well , besides soil health-related issues. 

That’s why we repeatedly keep stressing about the defining parameters starting from soil to plant to ecology.

You are dead right Dr Deka . Such parameters should be workable at farmers level , if attempts such as these have to succeed. Are there any parameters available to suggest about the soil ecology at field level.?

Thanks Abhishek . i am so impressed with your ability to explore literature in such a quick succession .  You make such discussion so meaningful , kindly keep it up.I am putting some facts from your links for the larger benefits of followers of this discussion :  

To understand and use soil health as a tool for sustainability, physical, chemical, and biological properties must be employed to verify which respond to the soil use and management within a desired timescale. Attributes with a rapid response to natural or anthropogenic actions are considered good indicators of soil health. Among the physical indicators, soil texture, aggregation, moisture, porosity, and bulk density have been used, while among chemical indicators total C and N, mineral nutrients, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, among others are well established. However, most of them generally have a slow response, when compared to the biological ones, such as microbial biomass C and N, biodiversity, soil enzymes, soil respiration, etc., in addition to macro and mesofauna. Thus, a systemic approach based on different kinds of indicators (physical, chemical and biological) in assessing soil health would be safer than using only one kind of attribute. ( Source : Cardos et al 2013, Sci.Agri. vol 70). Soil Edaphology is the another discipline that remains unattended in our soil-crop response relationship . Do you feel soil ecology and edaphology can compliment each other,  in having  better understanding  on behaviour of soil as ecosystem service provider,  friends..?

Can you please highlight with example how the role of soil changes under agriculture ecosystem to forest ecosystem.

Yes Dr Deka , it will distinctively change  , when you talk of ecosystem service  . in a typical agriculture ecosystem , role of soil is more complex , since soil has to produce  food , fuel , fodder , and above all, act as strong sink for accredition of carbon dioxide in its vegetative as well as reproductive framework. While , forest ecosystem is predominantly tilted towards fuel plus ecosystem safeguard , a major sink for carbon dioxide as a climate change buffer. This is the reason , we often advocate to observe the level of  carbon stock in agriculture ecosystem equivalent to forest ecosystem  in order to effectively sustain the agriculture .   

Ecosystem services are "the conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species [comprised within them], sustain and fulfill human life"  or, to put it more succinctly, "the benefits people obtain from ecosystems" . The subdivides ecosystem services into provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services. Provisioning services include the provision of food, natural fibre, fresh water, timber, biomass fuels, pharmaceuticals and industrial products, while supporting services refer to basic natural processes such as nutrient and water cycles, primary production, soil formation and photosynthesis. Pollination and the regulation of climate, erosion, air quality and pests are classified as regulating services. Recreation and eco-tourism, cultural diversity, knowledge systems as well as spiritual, religious and aesthetic values belong to cultural services(Source ; Johannes Brenner et al. 2012)

Agricultural ecosystems provide humans with food, forage, bioenergy and pharmaceuticals and are essential to human wellbeing. These systems rely on ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems, including pollination, biological pest control, maintenance of soil structure and fertility, nutrient cycling and hydrological services. Preliminary assessments indicate that the value of these ecosystem services to agriculture is enormous and often underappreciated. Agroecosystems also produce a variety of ecosystem services, such as regulation of soil and water quality, carbon sequestration, support for biodiversity and cultural services. Depending on management practices, agriculture can also be the source of numerous disservices, including loss of wildlife habitat, nutrient runoff, sedimentation of waterways, greenhouse gas emissions, and pesticide poisoning of humans and non-target species. therefore , in this background, the future land-use scenario would increase the landscape-level supply of both services over 25 years. Soil organic carbon content and water storage to 30 cm depth were predicted to increase by about 11% and 22%, respectively. Our service maps revealed the locations of hotspots, as well as potential trade-offs in service supply under new land-use configurations. The study highlights the need to consider diverse land uses in sustainable management of soil services in changing agricultural landscapes( Source : Mohsen eta l. 2014, Sci. World. J.). In fact, compared to more natural ecosystems, agriculture and forestry have much readier potential to expand their supply of currently nonmarketed ES for three reasons: (1) much is known about biophysical input output relationships in the system, (2) there exist precedents for economic incentives that could induce greater ES supply, and (3)

the past performance of agriculture suggests strong capability to supply goods and services in response to attractive incentives.  ( Source : Swinton et al . 2006, Am . Soc. Agri. Eco. 5: 1160-1166). 

Urban and agricultural soils: conflicts and trade-offs in the optimization of ecosystem services by Setala et al. (Urban Ecosyst DOI 10.1007/s11252-013-0311-6) beautifully  portays , how the the meaning of ecosystem service changes with various options of ecosystem , especially when we consider services and tradeoffs. The above information is based on links and PDfs enclosed by Abhishek . I just put all these  into right perspective  for all of you following the developments for so long..hope you appreciate these efforts. 

Thanks Dr Srivastava for so comprehensive reply. This was the reason to know the change in aims of ecosystem service with framework of ecosystem. Nice discussion indeed.