Firstly, I commend the authors and contributors on the effort extended in developing the draft VGSSM. Please find below a few comments on the document;
§ I note that the scope indicates that the guideline will address sustainable management of soils in all types of agricultural system and wonder why the agriculture was the only land use targeted. I appreciate the role of agriculture in soil degradation but it might be beneficial to include other land uses such as horticultural (landscaping), and other transformations of land that do not result in permanent cover.
§ I document would also benefit from including a glossary. For example, I was unaware of what the term “brownfields” referred to. This is said in the context that the guideline are intended to service a wide variety of multi-hierarchal stakeholders.
§ In reviewing the document, I could not help but get the feeling that the guidelines were based on the assumption that agriculture (cropping systems) were at least had some mechanical input. Many of the guidelines focused on erosion control under conventional tillage. However, for many SIDS manual or small scale mechanised production may be limited by residue presence, especially where transplant production is the norm. I don’t think the guideline has focused on small scale farming in relation to examples and strategies presented.
§ Guideline 3.4 which addresses nutrient imbalance can be improved with inclusion of firstly ensuring that diagnostic testing (soil) is performed to guide nutrient inputs.
§ Under the current global scenario, I think that a guideline that addresses climate change implications on sustainable soil management should be included.
I would like to wish the panel success in this needed initiative and look forward to the implementation of these guidelines.
Dear Moderators,
Firstly, I commend the authors and contributors on the effort extended in developing the draft VGSSM. Please find below a few comments on the document;
§ I note that the scope indicates that the guideline will address sustainable management of soils in all types of agricultural system and wonder why the agriculture was the only land use targeted. I appreciate the role of agriculture in soil degradation but it might be beneficial to include other land uses such as horticultural (landscaping), and other transformations of land that do not result in permanent cover.
§ I document would also benefit from including a glossary. For example, I was unaware of what the term “brownfields” referred to. This is said in the context that the guideline are intended to service a wide variety of multi-hierarchal stakeholders.
§ In reviewing the document, I could not help but get the feeling that the guidelines were based on the assumption that agriculture (cropping systems) were at least had some mechanical input. Many of the guidelines focused on erosion control under conventional tillage. However, for many SIDS manual or small scale mechanised production may be limited by residue presence, especially where transplant production is the norm. I don’t think the guideline has focused on small scale farming in relation to examples and strategies presented.
§ Guideline 3.4 which addresses nutrient imbalance can be improved with inclusion of firstly ensuring that diagnostic testing (soil) is performed to guide nutrient inputs.
§ Under the current global scenario, I think that a guideline that addresses climate change implications on sustainable soil management should be included.
I would like to wish the panel success in this needed initiative and look forward to the implementation of these guidelines.
Regards,
Gaius Eudoxie
Lecturer, Soil Science
University of the West Indies
St. Augustine
Trinidad and Tobago