Soil Quality

What is it?
How do we measure it?
How do we enhance it?

Medium for
Plant growth

Water supply
and purification

Recycling
system

5
Functions
of Soil

Habitat for
Soil organisms

Engineering Medium

Definition
The capacity of a soil to:
1. Sustain biological productivity and
diversity
2. Maintain environmental quality
3. Promote plant and animal health
Source:Doran & Parkin, 1994)

J.L. Deenik

J.L. Deenik

Brady & Weil, 2004

Good vs Bad

Soil Quality Assessment

Descriptive
Look
Feel
Smell
Other ?

J.L. Deenik

Analytical
Physical
Chemical
Biological

J.L. Deenik

Soil Quality Assessment

Indicator
Texture
Depth of soil and rooting
Bulk density and infiltration
WHC
Total SOM
Active OM
pH
EC
Extractable NPK
Microbial biomass
Mineralizable N
Specific respiration
Macroorganisms
Doran & Parkin, 1994

Rationale
Physical
Retention and transport of water and chemicals
Estimate of productivity potential and erosion
Potential for leaching, productivity, and erosion
Water retention, transport, and erosivity
Chemical
C sequestration, potential fertility, and stability
Structural stability and food for microbes
Biological and chemical activity threshholds
Plant and microbial activity threshholds
Plant available nutrients, potential for environmental contamination
Biological
Early warning of management effect on organic matter
Soil productivity and N supply potential
Microbial activity per unit microbial biomass
Potential influence

Indicators Sensitivity to
Management
Rapid

Water content
Respiration
Bulk density
pH
NPK

Intermediate
Aggregation
Microbial

biomass

Active C

OM content

Permanent
Soil depth
Slope
Climate
Restrictive
layers
Texture
Mineralogy

Difficult

Relatively Simple

pH and EC
Bulk density
Depth of soil
Texture
WHC
Extractable NPK

Total SOM
Active OM
N mineralization
Microbial biomass
Microbial diversity

Soil Quality Monitoring

Intensive sampling
Expensive analysis
Field test kits?

http://www.bentonswcd.org/store

Measuring Soil Responses to

Management
Sustainable Management
Stability in production and profitability
Protection and enhancement of the natural
resource base
Soil responds to
management
Assessment Approaches

J.L. Deenik

Soil Organic Matter (mg/ha)

Cultivation and Soil Organic Matter

Time After Start of Cultivation (years)

Brady & Weil, 2004

Effects Due to Loss of SOM

Increased bulk density
Decreased soil tilth
Poor soil structure
Decreased water infiltration
Increased erosion
Decreased water holding capacity
Increased susceptibility to drought
Decreased N mineralization potential
Decreased microbial biomass/activity
Decreased macrofauna

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Brady & Weil, 2004

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
Waimea soil:

Uncultivated
Cultivated

2
1
0

1.0

0.8

0.6

600

Extractable P (ppm)

10

Total N (%)

Soil pH

Soil Organic C (%)

6
5

700

1.2

12

500
400
300

0.4

0.2

100

0.0

200

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
Waimea soil:
1200

1000

MBC (ppm)

HWEC (ppm)

1500

800

600

400
500

200

120

160
100
140
120
100
80
60
40

Aggregate Stability (5)

1000

2000

180

N Mineralization Potential (ppm)

2500

80

60

40

20
20
0

Uncultivated
Cultivated

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
Hot H2O Extractable C

Microbial Biomass C
3000

3500
Uncultivated
Conventional Cultivation

2500

2500

MBC (mg C kg-1)

HWEC (mg C kg-1)

3000

2000
1500
1000

2000

1500

1000

500

500

0
HydrudandUstand Ustoll

Perox

Ustox

HydrudandUstand Ustoll

Perox

Ustox

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
N Mineralization Potential

Aggregate Stability
120

250

Uncultivated
Conventional Cultivation

100

Aggregate Stability (%)

N Mineralization Potential (mg N kg-1)

300

200

150

100

80

60

40

50

20

0
Hydrudand Ustand

Ustoll

Ustox

Hydrudand Ustand

Ustoll

Soil Suborder

Perox

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
Compost Experiment
Effects of compost on Radish growth and N mineralization
50

70

60
40

50

50

40

40

30

30

20

20

10

10

Marketable Yield (g/plant)

Fresh Weight
% Infection

% Infection

Fresh Weight (g/plant)

60

25

N Mineralization Potential (mg NH4+-N kg-1

70

30

20

10

0
0

11.2

44.8

c
20

15

10

-5

-10

0
0

11.2

44.8

Compost Addition Rate (T/ha)

Compost added at 10 and 40 T/acre

11.2

44.8

Management Effects on Soil Quality

Examples from Hawaii
Effects of organic management on a Vertisol, Waianae

1400

500

1000
800
600
400

50

Aggregate Stability (%)

1200

1500

MBC (mg C kg-1)

HWEC (mg C kg-1)

Uncultivated
Organic Management

1000

60

1600

2000

40

30

20

10
200
0

 Cultivation has had a negative effect on soil quality.

Clear evidence that changes in SOM management are
required to improve soil quality.
Does improving soil quality directly improve crop
production?

Fundamental Questions
Does improving soil quality
parameters improve crop
quality and production?
Do the benefits of using
green manure rotations
outweigh the additional cost
and labor?
Are animal manures a viable
option?
What role does research play
in helping farmers enhance
soil quality

J.L. Deenik

Building Partnerships

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