These include tests of organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, heavy metals, cation exchange capacity, and others.

Physical characteristics that vary with management include bulk density, aggregate stability, infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, and penetration resistance.

Accumulation of agents able to promote biological stress and subsequent loss of yield such as nematodes, weeds, microorganisms, mice, etcetera, favoured by, for instance, a too narrow crop rotation.

The movement of water passing the soil surface into the soil (as contrasted with percolation, which is movement of water through soil layers moving down to the aquifers, or out to rivers).

The maximum rate at which water can infiltrate into a soil under a given set of conditions.

The speed at which water can pass into the soil, being typically lower in wet clay than in dry sand (unless sand has become hydrophobic).

Soil properties that do not change with land use.

Mineral, synthetic, industrial, artificial or manufactured fertilizers.

A type of scientific modelling often used by the environmental sciences and environmental policy analysis. The modelling is integrated because environmental problems do not respect the borders between academic disciplines. Integrated assessment models therefore integrate knowledge from two or more domains into a single framework; knowledge at different scales could be integrated as well. Integrated modelling is referred to as assessment because the activity aims to generate useful information for policy making, rather than to advance knowledge for knowledge's sake. (based on: wikipedia)

The process of increasing the use of inputs (labour, information, energy, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery) relative to land area, to increase agricultural production per ha. Intensification may increase the pressure on the environment, if it is comprised of an indiscriminate increase of the use of inputs without an associated increase in managerial input. A higher use of fertilizers and pesticides, for instance,