Soil health is the capacity of "soil to function as a living system, with ecosystem and land use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality in long term" and promote plant and animal health. Healthy soils maintain a diverse biodiversity of soil organisms that help to control plant disease, insect and weed pests, form beneficial symbiotic associations with plant roots; recycle essential plant nutrients; improve soil structure with positive repercussions for soil water and nutrient holding capacity, and ultimately improve crop production" . On the contrary, land degradation is considered one of the most serious environmental issues, increasing the vulnerability of the agricultural sector, negatively impacting food security, income for farmers as well as the national economy. Land degradation is caused by two main factors: natural and human induced. Natural factors include disasters such as floods, droughts, soil erosion, and nutrient depletion and human-induced factors stem from inappropriate agricultural practices, including the implementation of monoculture systems. In general, the use of Agro-meteorological forecasting information for planning and crop calendars, the adoption of conservation agriculture, and the implementation of agroecological
farming systems are essential measures. These require research, training, and widespread dissemination as necessary means to build
farmers' confidence in implementing activities that improve soil health, ensuring sustainable crop production and food security in an efficient
and environmentally friendly manner.
