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

作者：Omololu John Idowu, Harold M. van Es, G. S. Abawi, David W. Wolfe, Robert R. Schindelbeck, Bianca N. Moebius‐Clune, Beth K. Gugino · 发表于：Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems · 年份：2009 · DOI：10.1017/s1742170509990068 · 被引用次数：142 · 研究领域：Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics、Soil Management and Crop Yield、Soil Geostatistics and Mapping

Abstract Understanding 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 ...