Towards an integrative soil health assessment strategy: A three tier (integrative biomarker response) approach with Eisenia fetida applied to soils subjected to chronic metal pollution

Tillage intensity affects soil structure in many ways but the magnitude and type (+/−) of change depends on site-specific (e.g., soil type) and experimental details (crop rotation, study length, sampling depth, etc.). This meta-analysis examines published effects of chisel plowing (CP), no-tillage (NT) and perennial cropping systems (PER) relative to moldboard plowing (MP) on three soil structure indicators: wet aggregate stability (AS), bulk density (BD) and soil penetration resistance (PR). The data represents four depth increments (from 0 to >40-cm) in 295 studies from throughout the continental U.S. Overall, converting from MP to CP did not affect those soil structure indicators but reducing tillage intensity from MP to NT increased AS in the surface (<15-cm) and slightly decreased BD and PR below 25-cm. The largest positive effect of NT on AS was observed within Inceptisols and Entisols after a minimum of three years. Compared to MP, NT had a minimal effect on soil compaction indicators (BD and PR) but as expected, converting from MP to PER systems improved soil structure at all soil depths (0 to >40-cm). Among those three soil structure indicators, AS was the most sensitive to management practices; thus, it should be used as a physical indicator for overall soil health assessment. In addition, based on this national meta-analysis, we conclude that reducing tillage intensity improves soil structure, thus offering producers assurance those practices are feasible for crop production and that they will also help sustain soil resources.

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Soil Health Assessment and Management: Recent Development in Science and Practices

Soil Systems ◽

10.3390/soilsystems5040061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 61

Author(s):

Mingxin Guo

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Management Practices ◽

Conservation Tillage ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Health Indicators ◽

Assessment Methods ◽

Scientific Validity ◽

Health Card ◽

Research Education

In the past decade soil health has been intensively studied as a science and practiced as a means to help improve the global social, environmental, and economic sustainability. This paper reviews the recent advances of the scientific soil health system. The current understanding and interpretation of soil health from the perspectives of soil functions, processes, and properties is summarized. Multi-tier soil health indicators were selected from relevant soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. A suite of soil health assessment methods have been developed, such as soil health card, Solvita soil health tests, Haney soil health test, and comprehensive assessment of soil health. An array of soil health management practices have been recommended, including proper land use, crop rotation, cover crops, conservation tillage, soil organic amendment, crop-range-livestock integration, and rotational grazing. Overall, the recommended soil health indicators and assessment methods need further validation and improvement in relevance, scientific validity, practicality, and local adaptation. Continuous research, education, and outreach efforts are warranted to promote localized development, adoption, and implementation of soil health assessment and management.

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Toxicity Evaluation of Chlorpyrifos Metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol to Eisenia fetida in Different Soils

10.21203/rs.3.rs-529333/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kaixuan Hou ◽

Yue Yang ◽

Lei Zhu ◽

Ruolin Wu ◽

Albert Juhasz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eisenia Fetida ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Exposure Group ◽

Red Clay ◽

Enzymes Activities ◽

Soil Ecosystems ◽

Exposure Biomarker ◽

Biomarker Response ◽

Response Method ◽

Different Soils

Abstract The present study utilized a biomarker response method to evaluate the effect of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) in artificial and natural soils on Eisenia fetida after 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days exposure. Biomarker responses were standardized to calculate the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index. The influence of soil type on TCP toxicity was assessed. Results indicated that TCP induced excessive reactive oxygen species, caused oxidative stress, DNA damage to earthworm, which is similar to its parent chemical chlorpyrifos. The IBR index of three enzymes activities showed that TCP induced the enzymes activities of earthworm in red clay was stronger than the other three soils. Specifically, chlorpyrifos exposure group showed a lower toxicity than TCP exposure group after 28 days exposure but a higher toxicity than TCP exposure group after 56 days exposure. Despite the deficiencies of this study, the above information is of great significance for assessing the risk of chlorpyrifos and its metabolite TCP pollution in soil ecosystems.

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Antioxidant defense system responses, lysosomal membrane stability and DNA damage in earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid: an integrated biomarker approach to evaluating toxicity

RSC Advances ◽

10.1039/d1ra04097a ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (43) ◽

pp. 26481-26492

Author(s):

Zhifeng Wang ◽

Chaona Li ◽

Yuanyuan Shao ◽

Weina Xue ◽

Ning Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Damage ◽

Eisenia Fetida ◽

Antioxidant Defense ◽

Antioxidant Defense System ◽

Lysosomal Membrane ◽

Defense System ◽

Integrated Biomarker Response ◽

Toxicological Effects ◽

Biomarker Response ◽

Lysosomal Membrane Stability

The integrated biomarker response (IBR) index was calculated to evaluate the integrated toxicological effects of PFOA on earthworm Eisenia fetida.

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Histopathological effects and biomarker response of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, after exposure to crude oil contaminated soils

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology ◽

10.5620/eaht.2020021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. e2020021

Author(s):

Oluchi Onyinyechi Ijomah ◽

Adeola Alex Adesuyi ◽

Kelechi Longinus Njoku ◽

Sikiru Abiola Ojokuku ◽

Ugochukwu Donatus Moses ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Oil ◽

Contaminated Soils ◽

Eisenia Fetida ◽

Biomarker Response ◽

Histopathological Effects

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SMAF: A Soil Health Assessment Tool

The Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science ◽

10.17833/120-02.1 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 120 (1-4) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

D. L. KARLEN ◽

C. D. NANCE ◽

D. L. DINNES ◽

D. W. MEEK

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Soil Health ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Soil Management ◽

Winter Triticale ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Health Differences ◽

Health Assessments

The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was developed to help quantify soil quality/health effects of tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management practices. Our objective was to determine if the SMAF could detect soil health differences after growing a single winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) crop. Soil samples were collected from 0 to 7.5- and 7.5 to 15-cm depth increments during the 2003 – 2004 and 2004 – 2005 growing seasons near Ames and Lewis, IA, and analyzed for several potential soil quality indicators. The SMAF analysis showed higher soil quality ratings for surface than subsurface samples. It also showed that a single winter grain crop can significantly improve soil quality after either corn (Zea mays L.) or soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). Finally, in response to increasing interest in soil health assessments, a detailed appendix is attached to provide guidance for future soil health assessments.

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