The soils of arid and semiarid lands generally are lower in organic matter, plant nutrients (especially nitrogen), and microbial biomass and activities than soils of more mesic environments. The workshop panel emphasized the importance of increasing the retention and effective management of natively available and added residues and organic wastes in these soils as a necessary first step toward controlling desertificaiton and improving their productivity. The panel proposed utilization of a number of microbiological processes which they felt could achieve these objectives. For the purposes of the addressed problems, the workshop panel has emphasized non-irrigated land management systems and avoided sociological and socio-political aspects.