The Effect of Land Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators in Crete

The effects of four main practices tillage versus no-tillage, and intensive grazing versus extensive grazing, applied in characteristic agricultural and grazing lands of Crete Island were evaluated in situ using nine soil quality indicators. The following nine representative indicators of soil quality assessment were assessed using the rapid visual assessment methodology adopted at European level in the context of the EU research project iSQAPER: susceptibility to water and wind erosion, surface ponding (under cropping), formation of tillage pan, soil color, soil porosity, soil structure, susceptibility to slaking, infiltration rate, and biodiversity status. These indicators were measured in 48 agricultural field-plots to adequately represent the four above-mentioned practices and the different types of geomorphological patterns existing in the area. Additionally, 38 agricultural fields were sampled in the topsoil to assess cultivation practices (tillage, no-tillage) on soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable potassium, available phosphorous, and soil aggregate stability. Based on the indicators rating methodology, the appropriate statistical tests were applied and the soils under different managements were characterized in terms of their potential quality and their general agricultural value. The obtained data showed that in agricultural areas, significant differences were detected between tillage and no-tillage management practices for the indicators of soil structure and consistency and infiltration rate. In grazing land, significant differences were found for the soil quality indicators of susceptibility to erosion and infiltration rate for the corresponding practices of intensive and extensive grazing. Organic carbon content, exchangeable potassium content and aggregate stability were greatly affected in tillage versus no-tillage management practices.

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Physical soil quality indicators for monitoring British soils

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-8-1003-2017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 1003-1016 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ron Corstanje ◽

Theresa G. Mercer ◽

Jane R. Rickson ◽

Lynda K. Deeks ◽

Paul Newell-Price ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Management Practices ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Rate Of Change ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Soil Monitoring ◽

Soil Water Retention

Abstract. Soil condition or quality determines its ability to deliver a range of functions that support ecosystem services, human health and wellbeing. The increasing policy imperative to implement successful soil monitoring programmes has resulted in the demand for reliable soil quality indicators (SQIs) for physical, biological and chemical soil properties. The selection of these indicators needs to ensure that they are sensitive and responsive to pressure and change, e.g. they change across space and time in relation to natural perturbations and land management practices. Using a logical sieve approach based on key policy-related soil functions, this research assessed whether physical soil properties can be used to indicate the quality of British soils in terms of their capacity to deliver ecosystem goods and services. The resultant prioritised list of physical SQIs was tested for robustness, spatial and temporal variability, and expected rate of change using statistical analysis and modelling. Seven SQIs were prioritised: soil packing density, soil water retention characteristics, aggregate stability, rate of soil erosion, depth of soil, soil structure (assessed by visual soil evaluation) and soil sealing. These all have direct relevance to current and likely future soil and environmental policy and are appropriate for implementation in soil monitoring programmes.

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Use of an integrative soil health test for evaluation of soil management impacts

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170509990068 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 214-224 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

O.J. Idowu ◽

H.M. van Es ◽

G.S. Abawi ◽

D.W. Wolfe ◽

R.R. Schindelbeck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Health ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Silt Loam ◽

Indicator Values ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Corn Grain

AbstractUnderstanding the response of soil quality indicators to changes in management practices is essential for sustainable land management. Soil quality indicators were measured for 2 years under established experiments with varying management histories and durations at four locations in New York State. The Willsboro (clay loam) and Aurora (silt loam) experiments were established in 1992, comparing no-till (NT) to plow-till (PT) management under corn (Zea maysL.)–soybean (Glycine maxL.) rotation. The Chazy (silt loam) trial was established in 1973 as a factorial experiment comparing NT versus PT and the crop harvesting method (corn silage versus corn grain). The Geneva (silt loam) experiment was established in 2003 with vegetable rotations with and without intervening soil building crops, each under three tillage methods (NT, PT and zone-till (ZT)) and three cover cropping systems (none, rye and vetch). Physical indicators measured were wet aggregate stability (WAS), available water capacity (AWC) and surface hardness (SH) and subsurface hardness (SSH). Soil biological indicators included organic matter (OM), active carbon (AC), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) and root disease potential (RDP). Chemical indicators included pH, P, K, Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn. Results from the Willsboro and Aurora sites showed significant tillage effects for several indicators including WAS, AWC, OM, AC, pH, P, K, Mg, Fe and Mn. Generally, the NT treatment had better indicator values than the PT treatments. At the Chazy site, WAS, AWC, OM, AC, pH, K and Mg showed significant differences for tillage and/or harvest method, also with NT showing better indicator values compared to PT and corn grain better than corn silage. Aggregate stability was on average 2.5 times higher in NT compared to PT treatments at Willsboro, Aurora and Chazy sites. OM was also 1.2, 1.1 and 1.5 times higher in NT compared to PT treatments at Willsboro, Aurora and Chazy sites, respectively. At the Geneva site WAS, SH, AC, PMN, pH, P, K and Zn showed significant tillage effects. The cover crop effect was only significant for SH and PMN measurements. Indicators that gave consistent performance across locations included WAS, OM and AC, while PMN and RDP were site and management dependent. The composite soil health index (CSHI) significantly differentiated between contrasting management practices. The CSHI for the Willsboro site was 71% for NT and 59% for PT, while at the Aurora site it was 61% for NT and 48% for PT after 15 years of tillage treatments.

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Seasonal Changes of Soil Quality Indicators in Selected Arid Cropping Systems

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture8080124 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (8) ◽

pp. 124 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mohammed Omer ◽

Omololu Idowu ◽

April Ulery ◽

Dawn VanLeeuwen ◽

Steven Guldan

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Crop Management ◽

Soil Bulk Density ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Soil Measurements ◽

Wet Aggregate Stability

Improving the soil quality in arid agro-ecosystems requires a greater understanding of how the time-of-sampling and management affect the soil measurements. We evaluated the selected soil quality indicators on samples collected at a 0–0.15 m depth, and at various sampling dates of the year, corresponding to the fall of 2015, winter of 2015/2016, spring of 2016, and the summer of 2016. The three crop management systems sampled included alfalfa (Medicago sativa), upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), and pecan (Carya illinoinensis). The soil properties measured included the wet aggregate stability (WAS), mean weight diameter of dry aggregates (MWD), dry aggregates greater than 2 mm (AGG >2 mm), dry aggregates less than 0.25 mm (AGG <0.25 mm), available water capacity (AWC), soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil bulk density (BD), soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), extractable potassium (K), extractable phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and micronutrients (zinc, iron, copper, and manganese). Out of the 21 soil measurements, 15 varied significantly with the time-of-sampling within a year, although there were no consistent trends in variability. However, only a few measurements differed significantly with the crop management practices tested. Wet aggregate stability, MWD, AWC, and BD were significantly higher in the summer, while POXC and SOM were significantly higher in the fall and winter, respectively. Soil quality indicators such as NO3-N, K, and P decreased significantly during the spring. This study shows that the seasonal variability of the soil measurements can be significant in the arid agro-ecosystems, with the magnitude of variation depending on the measurement type. The soil managers in the region need to account for this variability, in order to be able to assess the changes in the soil quality. Also, because of the variability that can occur across the different sampling dates within a year, it is advisable to sample during the same period every year, for a consistent interpretation of the directional changes of the soil quality indicators.

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Short-Term Effects of Changing Soil Management Practices on Soil Quality Indicators and Crop Yields in Greenhouses

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10040582 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 582

Author(s):

Jerónimo Salinas ◽

David Meca ◽

Fernando del Moral

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Soil Solution ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Short Term ◽

The Mean ◽

Mean Concentration

The short-term responses of soil quality indicators are important for assessing the effects of new management practices and addressing threats to crop yields in greenhouses. The aim of this study was to assess, during three consecutive cropping seasons, the effect of a sustainable management package (CRTMP)—which includes the on-site reuse of greenhouse crop residues and tillage—in comparison with conventional management, based on fertigation only (CMP), on certain biochemical soil quality indicators and crop yields. CRTMP significantly increased (p < 0.05) the values of total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction (LF), water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), and dehydrogenase (DH) and β-glucosidase (GL) activities at a depth of 0–15 cm, as well as the mean concentration of nitrates in the soil solution. In addition, a significant Pearson’s correlation (p < 0.01) found between the indicators suggested a balanced improvement of soil biological activity and nutritional soil state. Nonetheless, the significant (p < 0.05) increases in the mean concentration of chlorides in the soil solution and electrical conductivity (p < 0.05) increased the risk of salinization, which may have affected the concentration of nitrates in the petiole sap and total production in CRTMP, which were significantly lower than in CMP. Nevertheless, the proportion of premium product was significantly higher in CRTMP, while the proportion of non-commercial production decreased.

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Effects of Management and Hillside Position on Soil Organic Carbon Stratification in Mediterranean Centenary Olive Grove

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11040650 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 650

Author(s):

Jesús Aguilera-Huertas ◽

Beatriz Lozano-García ◽

Manuel González-Rosado ◽

Luis Parras-Alcántara

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Management Practices ◽

Soil Management ◽

Olive Grove ◽

No Tillage ◽

Short Term ◽

Degradation Degree

The short- and medium—long-term effects of management and hillside position on soil organic carbon (SOC) changes were studied in a centenary Mediterranean rainfed olive grove. One way to measure these changes is to analyze the soil quality, as it assesses soil degradation degree and attempts to identify management practices for sustainable soil use. In this context, the SOC stratification index (SR-COS) is one of the best indicators of soil quality to assess the degradation degree from SOC content without analyzing other soil properties. The SR-SOC was calculated in soil profiles (horizon-by-horizon) to identify the best soil management practices for sustainable use. The following time periods and soil management combinations were tested: (i) in the medium‒long-term (17 years) from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT), (ii) in the short-term (2 years) from CT to no-tillage with cover crops (NT-CC), and (iii) the effect in the short-term (from CT to NT-CC) of different topographic positions along a hillside. The results indicate that the SR-SOC increased with depth for all management practices. The SR-SOC ranged from 1.21 to 1.73 in CT0, from 1.48 to 3.01 in CT1, from 1.15 to 2.48 in CT2, from 1.22 to 2.39 in NT-CC and from 0.98 to 4.16 in NT; therefore, the soil quality from the SR-SOC index was not directly linked to the increase or loss of SOC along the soil profile. This demonstrates the time-variability of SR-SOC and that NT improves soil quality in the long-term.

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Labile soil carbon fractions as indicators of soil quality improvement under short-term grassland set-aside

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr19180 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 364

Author(s):

Jason M. Lussier ◽

Maja Krzic ◽

Sean M. Smukler ◽

Katarina R. Neufeld ◽

Chantel J. Chizen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Crop Production ◽

Low Cost ◽

Size Fraction ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Aggregate Size ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Short Term ◽

Soil C

Grassland set-asides (GLSA) are fields that are taken out of intensive annual crop production and seeded with a mixture of grasses and legumes for one to four years to improve soil quality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) the relationships among soil organic carbon (SOC), permanganate oxidisable C (POXC), dilute-acid extractable polysaccharides (DAEP) and aggregate stability to determine if they may be used as proxies for one another, (ii) whether these indicators could be used to predict aggregate stability, (iii) if differences in soil quality after short-term GLSAs, detected with aggregate stability, could instead be detected with POXC or DAEP and (iv) potential use of diffuse Fourier transform spectroscopy (FT-MIR) to predict POXC, DAEP and aggregate stability in the Fraser River Delta region of British Columbia, Canada. There were strong relationships among SOC, POXC and DAEP, but the relationship between DAEP and SOC (R2 = 0.60, P < 0.0001) was less strong than that observed between POXC and SOC (R2 = 0.71, P < 0.0001). All three soil C fractions were significantly predicted with the 2–6 mm aggregate size fraction but the correlations for DAEP (R2 = 0.43) and POXC (R2 = 0.36) were stronger than that for SOC (R2 = 0.29). Predictions of soil quality indicators using FT-MIR produced R2 = 0.92 for POXC, R2 = 0.93 for DAEP and R2 = 0.62 for the 2–6 mm aggregate size fraction. These results suggest that FT-MIR holds promise as a low-cost method to determine labile soil C fractions that are better proxy soil quality indicators for aggregate stability than SOC.

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Soil quality indicators after conversion of “murundu” fields into no-tillage cropping in the Brazilian Cerrado

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s1678-3921.pab2019.v54.00374 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 ◽

Author(s):

Edicarlos Damacena de Souza ◽

Camila Rodrigues Menezes da Silva ◽

Flávio Araújo Pinto ◽

Marco Aurélio Carbone Carneiro ◽

Helder Barbosa Paulino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Quality ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

No Tillage ◽

Reference Area ◽

Soil Quality Indicators ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Microbial Quotient ◽

Tillage System ◽

Carbon Management Index

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in soil quality due to different times of adoption of the no-tillage system in “murundu” (mound) fields converted to agriculture, as well as to identify the best indicators to explain these changes. The study was carried out on a Plinthic Altisol, in the municipality of Portelândia, in the state of Goiás, Brazil. The treatments consisted of different times of conversion and of adoption of the no-tillage system - 8, 12, and 17 years - and of native area between the mounds and on top of the mounds (reference area). After 17 years of the adoption of no-tillage, there was an increase in organic carbon and nitrogen, as well as in their particulate fractions in relation to the reference area. The microbiological attributes showed greater values in the 17-year no-tillage period compared with the native area. For soil aggregation, 12 years of adoption of the no-tillage system were enough to show an increase in this variable. The main attributes to be used as soil quality indicators are microbial biomass carbon, the carbon management index, and the microbial quotient.

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