Establishing an index and identification of limiting parameters for characterizing soil quality in Mediterranean ecosystems

Wildfires have high frequency and intensity in the Mediterranean ecosystems that deeply modify the soil abiotic (i.e., pH, contents of water, organic matter and elements) and biotic properties (i.e., biomass and activity). In 2017, an intense wildfire occurred inside the Vesuvius National Park (Southern Italy), destroying approximately 50% of the existing plant cover. So, the research aimed to evaluate the fire effects on soil quality through single soil abiotic and biotic indicators and through an integrated index (SQI). To achieve the aim, soil samples were collected inside the Vesuvius National Park at 12 sampling field points before fire (BF) and after fire (AF). The findings highlighted that in AF soil, the contents of water and total carbon, element availability, respiration and the dehydrogenase activity were lower than in BF soil; in contrast, pH and hydrolase activity were significantly higher in AF soil. The microbial biomass and activity were affected by Al, Cr and Cu availability in both BF and AF soils. Despite the variations in each investigated soil abiotic and biotic property that occurred in AF soil, the overall soil quality did not significantly differ as compared to that calculated for the BF soil. The findings provide a contribution to the baseline definition of the properties and quality of burnt soil and highlight the short-term effects of fire on volcanic soil in the Mediterranean area.

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An Assessment of the Soil Quality Index in a Mediterranean Agro Ecosystem

Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture ◽

10.9755/ejfa.2018.v30.i12.1886 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1042

Author(s):

Vassilios Triantafyllidis ◽

Achilleas Kontogeorgosa Chariklia Kosma ◽

Angelos Patakas

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Index ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Decision Support Tool ◽

Mediterranean Ecosystems ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Soil Quality Index ◽

Support Tool

Soil quality is a complex functional concept, which cannot be measured directly but only be inferred from both soil characteristics and cultivation practices. Among different approaches used, Soil Quality Index (SQI) is considered to be the most appropriate for quantitative assessment of soil quality. Since, there is no standard method for SQI estimation, the aim of this study is to identify soil quality parameters that could be used for the development of reliable SQI which could be effectively applied in Mediterranean ecosystems. Three different methods resulting in different SQIs were evaluated regarding their ability to monitor changes in agricultural soil properties over time. Overall, a set of soil’s parameters was used as soil health indicators (pH, CaCO3, EC, NO3-N, P, K, Mg, Cu, B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Silt, Clay, Sand and SOC) derived from 605 soil samples used to calculate the above SQIs. The most reliable SQI to distinguish the effect of the examined parameters was the weighted additive approach. These 16 soil indicators can be used as decision support tool for soil management practices, as well as indirect measures of soil function, serving to assess soil health for a sustainable Mediterranean agro-environment.

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Effect of soil quality on the viability of GFP marked Rhizobium

University Journal of Zoology Rajshahi University ◽

10.3329/ujzru.v21i0.66 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 21 (0) ◽

Author(s):

AK Saha ◽

MF Haque

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality

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Changes in soil quality following humping/hollowing and flipping of pakihi soils on the West Coast, South Island New Zealand

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2007.69.2666 ◽

2007 ◽

pp. 265-270 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S.M. Thomas ◽

M.H.Beare C.D. Ford ◽

V. Rietveld

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Quality ◽

West Coast ◽

Land Development ◽

Hot Water ◽

Limited Information ◽

The West ◽

Organic Matter Quality ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Soil C

Humping/hollowing and flipping are land development practices widely used on the West Coast to overcome waterlogging constraints to pasture production. However, there is very limited information about how the resulting "new" soils function and how their properties change over time following these extreme modifications. We hypothesised that soil quality will improve in response to organic matter inputs from plants and excreta, which will in turn increase nutrient availability. We tested this hypothesis by quantifying the soil organic matter and nutrient content of soils at different stages of development after modification. We observed improvements in soil quality with increasing time following soil modification under both land development practices. Total soil C and N values were very low following flipping, but over 8 years these values had increased nearly five-fold. Other indicators of organic matter quality such as hot water extractable C (HWC) and anaerobically mineralisable N (AMN) showed similar increases. With large capital applications of superphosphate fertiliser to flipped soils in the first year and regular applications of maintenance fertiliser, Olsen P levels also increased from values

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Physico-Chemical Properties of Soil Collected from Chandrabhaga River in Kalmeshwar, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Journal of Advanced Research in Alternative Energy Environment and Ecology ◽

10.24321/2455.3093.202006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 07 (02) ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Amita M Watkar ◽

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Agricultural Land ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Matter Content ◽

Soil Attributes ◽

Essential Components ◽

Agricultural Land Management ◽

Physical And Chemical

Soil, itself means Soul of Infinite Life. Soil is the naturally occurring unconsolidated or loose covering on the earth’s surface. Physical properties depend upon the amount, size, shape, arrangement, and mineral composition of soil particles. It also depends on the organic matter content and pore spaces. Chemical properties depend on the Inorganic and organic matter present in the soil. Soils are the essential components of the environment and foundation resources for nearly all types of land use, besides being the most important component of sustainable agriculture. Therefore, assessment of soil quality and its direction of change with time is an ideal and primary indicator of sustainable agricultural land management. Soil quality indicators refer to measurable soil attributes that influence the capacity of a soil to function, within the limits imposed by the ecosystem, to preserve biological productivity and environmental quality and promote plant, animal and human health. The present study is to assess these soil attributes such as physical and chemical properties season-wise.

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