Soil Health as the Nexus of Ecological Resilience and Socioeconomic Viability:
Soil health is not merely a set of measurable biophysical indicators (chemical, physical, biological), but a dynamic, multidimensional construct that bridges science, stewardship, and socioeconomic viability.
While researchers increasingly operationalize soil health through standardized metrics, producers across the US and globally often define it more holistically: as the capacity of land to sustain productivity, buffer shocks, and support livelihoods over generations.
Qualitative studies (Grinnell et al., 2025) reveal that farmers and ranchers view soil health not only as a diagnostic target but also as an emergent property of resilient operations, intertwined with economic stability, risk mitigation, intergenerational equity, and place-based knowledge.
This expanded framing positions soil health not as an endpoint, but as a process of adaptive co-management between people and land. For science and policy to meaningfully support agricultural transformation, technical assistance and market incentives must therefore integrate measurable soil functions with the producer-defined dimensions of resilience: profitability, autonomy, community well-being, and climate preparedness. Centering soil health in this broader socio-ecological context, rather than reducing it to a laboratory report, strengthens alignment between evidence-based practice and on-farm decision-making, accelerating adoption of regenerative systems in an era of accelerating change.
Meaningful impact:
Healthy soils are crucial for robust plant growth, affecting not just crop yields but also the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables. Factors such as soil fertility, structure, and mineral availability are crucial for water retention, nutrient cycling, and plant metabolism. These elements directly influence the vitamins, antioxidants, and essential nutrients in food.
Conservation agriculture practices, including minimal soil disturbance, crop rotations, and residue retention, are crucial for maintaining soil health. They help preserve organic matter, enhance nutrient cycling, and minimize degradation. By improving soil fertility, managing water resources, and supporting biodiversity, these practices enhance ecosystem services, ultimately leading to resilient food systems and healthier diets.
Therefore, plant growth has a significant impact on the composition of fruit and vegetable products. Vigorous growth rates are associated with higher levels of biomass and a broad spectrum of metabolites. Soils provide a medium for the active development of roots and the assimilation of both macronutrients and micronutrients. The macronutrients generally include nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (N, P, K), which are typically associated with leaves, fruit, and root tissues, respectively. Further, numerous specific soil-borne micronutrients (e.g. zinc- Zn, manganese-Mn, copper-Cu) are essential to optimum growth rates. Each plant will have an optimum level of soil-based minerals that influence plant growth. Most plant foods are affected by a “genetic-by-environment” (G x E) interaction. Thus, the specific cultivar and growing conditions have a dramatic influence on the growth rate and inherent nutritional value of plant products.
The composition of soils directly controls water-holding capacity and the vital movement of minerals within the plant vascular tissue (xylem and phloem). Soil mineral deficiencies or the presence of alkaline salts will negatively affect plant growth and the nutritional value of the food. Elements essential to plant growth include C, H, O, P, K, N, S, Ca, and Mg. Soils play a crucial role in the bioavailability of these elements, enabling plants to thrive.
Vigorous plant growth impacts overall yield, expressed as total biomass and selected harvestable components (fruits, leaves, stems, roots) used for food. Mineral content and numerous plant metabolites (vitamins and antioxidants) are highest in well-maintained plants undergoing active growth. Growth rates are influenced by both biotic factors (such as diseases and pests) and abiotic factors, including temperature, moisture content, and soil conditions.
Soil conditions have a dramatic influence on plant growth and the subsequent nutritional value of the food produced. Mineral uptake and deposition within leaves, stems, and fruit are well-demonstrated for leafy greens (such as spinach), succulent stems (like asparagus), roots (like carrots), and fruits (like apples). The xylem transports soil minerals to support the photosynthetic processes within the leaves. Active synthesis produces numerous cofactors, including vitamins (particularly water-soluble vitamins) and bioactive compounds. Phloem transports energy and bioactive compounds to various tissues throughout the plant. It is to be emphasized that active, vigorous plant growth is directly associated with higher levels of nutrients within the plant tissues. Ascorbic acid, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin (B-complex) are specifically nutritionally enhanced in plants grown under optimal soil fertility and without generally adverse biotic and abiotic stresses.
Research areas related to soil interactions and plant growth are crucial to both the agricultural and human nutrition sectors. The overall productivity and sustainability of plant-based foods play a significant role in future development. Soils (types, condition, and fertility) are increasingly recognized as a vital link for the improved nutritional value of plants used as human food stocks.