Sustainability of soil system and crop productivity is the greatest challenges in the twentyfirst century. The growing population pressurized modern agricultural practices to enhance food production. Green-revolution derived modern agriculture is characterized by the use of high-yielding crop varieties, inappropriate application of synthetic fertilizers and intensive water and energy resources utilization. Although, modern agriculture increased the food production several folds, but at cost of huge environmental degradation such as climate change, environmental pollution, degradation of soil health and biodiversity (soil microbial biodiversity). Soil microbial diversity is an important indicator of soil health that sustain various biogeochemical cycles in the soil system. The traditional agriculture has the novel capability of the environment and soil health management including soil microbial diversity. It enhances the spatial distribution of microbial diversity and its metabolic versatility which is vital for soil health. The tradition of India including various types of traditional agriculture practices because of its diverse weather. Mixed cropping, compost based cropping, agroforestry and livestock integrated agriculture practices are common in India since ages. The policy makers and scientific society are reevaluating the potential of these natural agriculture practices which fully depend on the biological and energy efficient inputs. The overall objective of this article is to highlight the potentials of traditional agriculture in respect to natural resource conservation including soil microbial system. | Food production through traditional agriculture: An urgent need to improve soil health by sustaining soil microbial diversity
