Are they different and Do they matter Susan Andrews National Leader Soil Quality and Ecosystems National Soil Survey Center August 9 2012 Soil Quality Definitions fitness for use ID: 674747
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Slide1
Soil Quality and Soil Health: Are they different? and Do they matter?
Susan Andrews, National Leader
Soil Quality and Ecosystems
National Soil Survey Center
August 9
,
2012Slide2
Soil Quality Definitions“fitness for use” - Larson & Pierce, 1991
“capacity of the soil to function”
- Karlen et al. 1997Slide3
Soil Functions Recognized by USDA-NRCSMaintaining biodiversity & productivityPartitioning water and solute flowFiltering and bufferingCycling and storing nutrients [and energy]
Structural support and stability
- after Seybold et al., 1997Slide4
reflects natural characteristicsbased on soil forming factors climate, parent material, topography, and biota, all acting over time – Jenny, 1941
- after Pierce and Larson, 1993
INHERENT SOIL QUALITY
DYNAMIC SOIL QUALITY
Types of Soil Quality
describes status or condition of soil
result of land use or management practiceSlide5
Similar TermsGenetic v. Kinetic - Richter, 1987State v. BehavioralKoolen
, 1987; Carter et al., 1997
Genoform
v. PhenoformDroogers and
Bouma
, 1997Slide6
Both Types of SQ are Important
Soil A
Soil B
Soil Function
Inherent
SQ
Dynamic
SQ
50%
85%
Dynamic SQ
with respect to Inherent capability
- after Andrews et al., 2004Slide7
Soil Health v. Soil QualitySoil health is used as a synonym for soil quality - Doran and Parkin, 1996
Minor exceptions:
Soil health includes only dynamic quality
Sometimes greater emphasis on biology
A soil may have poor inherent soil quality
but still have good soil health.
Gregorich
and Carter,
1997Slide8
SQ and SH Use in NRCSAssessment: Conservation Delivery StreamliningSoil Survey: Dynamic Soil Properties InventoryPolicy and Programs: EQIP; CSPChief’s Initiative: Soil Health Management Systems
It’s not enough for planners to memorize practices, there must be an understanding of principlesSlide9
Why is soil quality/health important?Foundation resourceFundamental to sustainabilityValues and ValueSlide10
Soils are the Foundation Resource
With loss of soil function air and water quality degrade Slide11
Soil Quality
Air Quality
Water Quality
Environmental Quality
Agricultural Sustainability
Environmental
Quality
Economic
Viability
Social
Acceptability
-after
Andrews et al.,
1998; 2002
Soil Quality
as a Component of SustainabilitySlide12
Soil Quality and SustainabilityConsidered an indicator of sustainable land management – Doran and Zeiss, 2000
Change in SQ with time is the primary indicator of sustainable land management
–
Karlen et al., 1997Slide13
Value-Laden TermHuman values (and social mores) can’t be ignoredValues are represented in management goal -oriented definition of soil qualityValues may be monetary or non-monetaryFarmers define SQ in economic termsEconomists use multiple ways to assign valueBuilding quality is linked to several
f.b
. programsSlide14
Principal Threats to Soil Quality: Erosion Organic matter declineSalinization
Soil biodiversity loss
Compaction
Landslides Contamination Sealing
- EUC: Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, 2008
Why do some soils resist degradation better than others?Slide15
Components of Functional StabilitySoil Resilience
The ability of a soil to recover its previous level of function after a disturbance
Soil Resistance
The ability of a soil to resist change in function throughout a disturbance
-
Pimm
, 1984; Seybold et
al.,
1999; Andrews, 2003Slide16
Differences in Resistance and Resilience
Soil Function
Time (years)
Compaction
Disturbance
Soil with
high resistance
Soil with
low resistance
and high resilience
-
Seybold
et al.,
1999
Soil with
low resistance
and low resilienceSlide17
Some Factors Affecting Resistance and Resilience DisturbanceDiversity & ComplexityWater, Nutrients & Energy
-after
Carter et al.,
2003
These factors can be managed!
Soil Texture
Soil Depth
Soil Horizon Sequence
These factors are difficult to manage!
(Organic Matter)Slide18
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Diversity
Disturbance frequency or intensity
- Connell, 1978
-Neher, 1999, Carter et al., 2003, Andrews, 2003
/ FunctionSlide19
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Diversity
Disturbance frequency or intensity
- Connell, 1978
-Neher, 1999, Carter et al., 2003, Andrews, 2003
/ FunctionSlide20
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis
Diversity
Disturbance frequency or intensity
- Connell, 1978
-Neher, 1999, Carter et al., 2003, Andrews, 2003
/ Function
There are many paths to the sustainable land managementSlide21
What is a disturbance?A natural or human induced stress
Examples for agricultural systems include:
Heavy traffic load
Tillage
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Monoculture
Pollutants
Saline irrigation water
Grazing pressure
WeedsClimateSlide22
Rotational Grazing is intermediate disturbance
Reeder (2002) found the highest levels of SOM under intermediately grazed grasslandsSlide23
Manage for Reduced Disturbance-after
Carter et al.,
2003
Types of Disturbance
Physical
Biological
Chemical
Management Strategies
Minimize tillage
Increase diversity
Precision applicationSlide24
Conservation TillageSlide25
Soil Function
Time
Disturbance
Disturbance
Soil Resilience
Decreasing
with Time
-
Seybold
et al.,
1999
(with frequent
disturbance
)Slide26
Effect of Improved Management
Soil Function
Time
Disturbance
Reduced Disturbance
-
Seybold
et al.,
1999Slide27
Manage for Increased Diversity (biological disturbance)-after
Carter et al.,
2003
Some Types of Diversity & Complexity
Species & Genetic
Habitat
Temporal
Food Web ‘Health
’
Targeted solutions
Management Examples
Cover crops, varieties
Intercrop, trap crops
Use of RotationsOrganic
amendments
Limit-specific crops
Slide28
Cover Crops
(PMC SH Study)Slide29
The Roller Crimper Slide30
Tools to Apply SQ Principles to meet NRCS needsSimple tools for conservation planning (CDSI)DSP database and interpretations Identify and quantify soil function
Agronomics, forestry, range, economics
Soil Health Management System Initiative
Slide31
Tools for á la carte AssessmentVisual assessment to determine likely problemsSimple decision tool to aide choice of testsNeeds to be interactive to suggest appropriate tests by region and management system
Observed
Concern
Related Soil FunctionSQ Indicator
Ponding
Water partitioning
Penetration, bulk density
Gully erosion
Water partitioning
Infiltration, ocular estimate
Poor yield areaProductivityCarbon; other limiting factorsSlide32
Inventory of Dynamic Soil Properties (DSP)Database of affects of management on functionFocus on reversibility of function loss
(Arnold et al.,1990
)
Different effects for various soils and climatesUseful to suggest mgt. alternatives and programs
Productivity
Land degradation
103
103
103
103
250
Land use impactsSlide33
SH Management SystemsMust adhere to principles of IDH by allowing many paths to build soil healthCan encourage innovation to address site-specific issues and management goalsNeed a simple tool to mix and match practicesTool can then point user to management templates or job aids, specific to building SHSlide34
Tool to Build a Custom SHMS PhysicalChemicalBiological
Tillage
and Residue Mgt
Integrated Pest MgtCover CropsControlled Traffic
Organic Certification
Conservation Rotations
Mulch Application
Nutrient Management
Alley Cropping
Strip Tillage
Precision ApplicationStrip CroppingExample: Choose a minimum of five practices, at least one from each disturbance category Could weight practices by effectiveness and require a minimum score (similar to CMT or SWET)Practices that Alleviate Physical, Chemical and Biological DisturbanceSlide35
SummarySoil Health and Quality are synonymousResistance and resilience dictate the soil’s function response to disturbanceIntermediate levels of disturbance, regardless of method, relate to higher functionFor greatest sustainability, manage for:Reduced physical, chemical & biological disturbanceIncreases overall function and diversityIncreases system stability
Optimizes cycling of nutrients, water and energySlide36
Questions?Contact: Susan Andrews
susan.andrews@lin.usda.govSlide37
“To skin and exhaust the land will result in undermining the days of our children
.”
Theodore Roosevelt