Technical Abstract: Modern agriculture has developed into a high technology and high inputs industry that has met the increasing needs of an ever-growing human population. However, this "industrial" system of agriculture increasingly results in reduced net economic returns to farmers, taxes the resilience of soil, stresses our natural non-renewable resources, and increases the potential for environmental pollution. Soil health and quality indicators and the changes in those indicators, can be a major link between the strategies of conservation management practices and achievement of the major goals of sustainable agriculture. Microorganisms are key to the integrated functioning of nutrient cycles and decomposition, soil structure and plant growth in agricultural systems. Research is needed to increase our understanding of the ecology and functioning of microbial communities, their response to management practices, their impact on soil health and quality in agroecosystems, and their role in sustainability. Ultimately the indicators of soil health and strategies for sustainable management must be linked to the development of management systems that foster reduction in the inputs of non-renewable resources, maintain acceptable levels of productivity, and minimize impact on the environment.