Soil health assessments across pasture management systems in Brazil: A comprehensive review

• Integrated systems are the consensus strategy for restoring degraded pasture soils. • Soil health assessments in Brazilian pastures rely on a core triad of indicators (SOC, pH, and bulk density). • Quantitative frameworks are increasingly used to produce integrated soil health assessments. . Brazil’s extensive pasturelands are widely affected by degradation and have lost productivity, creating an urgent need for their recovery through sustainable intensification. While integrated agricultural systems (IAS) are promoted as a solution, a comprehensive understanding of the evolution, holistic principles, and outcomes of soil health assessments in these systems remains fragmented. We conducted a systematic review of 64 studies (2014-2024) to map the methodological structure of soil health assessment in managed Brazilian pastures and synthesized their reported outcomes. Soil health research is geographically concentrated in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Methodologically, soil health assessments have matured from qualitative towards quantitative integration frameworks, though they consistently rely on a foundational triad: soil organic carbon, pH, and bulk density. Network analysis confirmed these indicators as the primary hubs connecting chemical, physical, and biological clusters, reflecting a current dependence on routine metrics over more sensitive biological and physical indicators. While the transition to IAS predominantly improves soil health compared to degraded baselines, we argue that a robust, holistic assessment must extend beyond this routine triad. Finally, we highlight critical gaps in standardizing monitoring protocols to effectively support nature-positive soil management in the tropics. These findings offer strategic guidelines for research and policymaking to enhance the productivity and resilience of Brazil’s pasturelands.