Need of a strategy for evaluation of arable soil quality

The economic well-being of most of the nations on earth depends greatly on arable soils and how well their productivity is maintained. Soil quality can improve or deteriorate depending on influencing factors. There is a need of tools to interpret the different soil quality data as well as a strategy for an evaluation that gives a quality picture for a specific soil. A strategy for an integrated evaluation of soil quality is suggested. The different indicators used are such that they reflect biological, chemical, and physical components of the soil. Information about climatic conditions as well as data concerning cultivation measures, previous and present, should be included. Principal component analysis (PCA) is needed to evaluate the complex data sets compiled from all these variables.