The terms soil quality or soil health are used to describe by a soil’s continued capacity to function as a living system that enhances plant productivity, maintains or restores environmental quality, and supports a diverse community of soil organisms.
This review paper: (1) describes geographical and environmental parameters of the Ogallala aquifer region, (2) defines soil health and soil health indicators, (3) compares soil health studies under dryland and irrigated management within the OAR, and (4) describes future soil health research directions important for this region and for agro-ecosystems worldwide facing declines in groundwater and increased climate variability.
Given the the Ogallala aquifer region’s diverse climates, soils, and crop coverage, information gathered in this review will aid management decisions in other regions to increase soil health.
