Framework to quantify the functions of soil: An approach to soil health assessment interpretation

Abstract:

One objective of the Soil Health Institute’s North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements was to develop a standard suite of soil health measurements that can be clearly and consistently interpreted to assess soil health outcomes of agricultural management practices. In spring of 2019 our team collecting soils from over 2000 plots at 124 long-term research sites located throughout North America. In addition to a comprehensive suite of laboratory measurements, we have thorough management histories, in situ saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements, and yield data for each plot. At its core, soil health means the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system to its potential. Because soils will vary in their potential based on factors like climate and soil texture, we evaluated over 30 indicators to determine which were most useful to predict how cropped soils functioned in relation to nearby minimally managed soils. In doing so we have built a framework where we focus interpretation of indicators on the power to quantify three of the most pivotal soil functions: the ability to store carbon, cycle nitrogen, and deliver water to plants. The indicators will be selected on the basis of their sensitivity to management, ease of use and availability, cost, and usefulness in predicting functional outcomes.