Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations.
This is an example of pathos! Pathos is a rhetorical device which appeals to the emotions. By having the audience imagine a sad scenario such as this one, the author is employing pathos.