Soil health and function - Physical characteristics, function, and soil health status of compost amended soil

Soil physical structure underpins different soil functions. These functions are critical with significant spatial contributions from field to the catchment and the wider environment. Examples of such functions include flood mitigation, reducing soil erosion, and influencing greenhouse gas emissions from soil.

Sustainable management of agricultural soils aims to optimise soil physical condition ensuring that soil functions are maintained. The application of indicators to characterise soil health is key in both top- and sub-soils to monitor and assess soil ecosystem services.