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Soil Quality Assessment Through Least Limiting Water Range Indicators for Sustainable Crop Production

The need for food is rising along with the alarming rate at which the world's population is growing. Soil quality has been deteriorating over the years and this has put sustainability of agricultural production at stake. The status of the soil must be periodically assessed in order to adopt the proper management practises to maintain or increase the quality. Physical properties of the soil have a direct impact on the chemical and biological processes in the soil, which are crucial factors in determining soil quality. The Least Limiting Water Range (LLWR) is one of the most popularly used soil physical quality index. It is the range of soil water content where there are fewest restrictions to plant growth in terms of soil water, aeration, and mechanical resistance. Many studies have established a positive relation between LLWR and both crop yields and total SOC content.