Soil is important gift of nature to humankind. It is important not only for the production of food and fibre, but also for maintenance of health of living beings, environment and ground water quality. For modern society, soil is more important than ever before because soil resources of the world are finite, non renewable over the human time frame and is liable to misuse and mismanagement. Soil resources are shrinking all over the world through several soil degradation process such as loss of organic matter, erosion, desertification, salinization, water logging etc. and competitive use of soil for urbanization and industrialization. Agricultural technologies that led to Green Revolution resulted in the degradation of soil resources owing to over exploitation under intensive cultivation coupled with mismanagement.

This book is an attempt to compile the information on concept, indicators, evaluation, and monitoring of soil quality. It also embodies information on current technology status for management and improving the soil quality under different agro-ecosystems. The chapters of the book have been contributed by eminent scientists engaged in basic and applied research in soil science.