From Indicators to Action: Modeling Soil Health for Ecosystem Service Optimization

This study introduces an integrated approach to evaluating SESs using the ARMOSA (Analysis of cRopping systems for Management Optimization and Sustainable Agriculture) process-based model. ARMOSA enables the quantification of agronomic practices' effects on a broad set of crop and soil-related variables on a daily time scale. By utilizing multiple integrated indicators rather than isolated measurements, this approach captures the dynamic interactions within the soil-plant-atmosphere system—including water, carbon, and nitrate balances—across both spatial and temporal scales. This provides a more robust framework for soil health assessment tailored to site-specific characteristics. As highlighted in this session, the approach facilitates the identification of potential soil health statuses, laying the foundation for evaluating the impacts of various management practices on diverse soil types. Furthermore, it aligns with the objectives of soil monitoring legislation by offering insights into soil district delimitation and management strategies. It also provides a consistent and comprehensive framework for evaluating multiple soil ecosystem services while addressing scaling challenges in soil health assessments.