Soil Quality Assessment PDF

EXECUTIVE SHORT-TERM COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS TRACK B: PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS MODULE 2 DAY 15 SESSION 1 SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT By A. U. Yuguda, PhD. Adopted from Dr. Maged Hamed, Ph.D, P.E. Regional Safeguard Coordinator and Co-TTL of SPESSE The Environment...

EXECUTIVE SHORT-TERM COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS TRACK B: PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS MODULE 2 DAY 15 SESSION 1 SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT By A. U. Yuguda, PhD. Adopted from Dr. Maged Hamed, Ph.D, P.E. Regional Safeguard Coordinator and Co-TTL of SPESSE The Environment Global Practice of the West and Central Africa - SAWE4 March 2024 Copyright © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the National Universities Commission of Nigeria and the World Bank, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Abuja-Nigeria, Attention: Coordinator, Special Projects, and to the World Bank, Attention: Dr. Maged Hamed, Lead Environmental Specialist. Course Content Soil Quality and the SDG Definition of Soil Health Definition of Soil Quality and Assessment Soil Components Soil Properties (Physical, Chemical, Biological and Organic Matters) Soil Properties Indicators Soil Quality Management Soil Health Assessment and the SDGs SDG 2 States: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Target 2.4 States: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality Soil Health /Soil Quality Soil health or soil quality is a concept that has increased in popularity over the past several years “Soil” is defined by the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) as “the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.” “Health” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the condition of being sound in body, mind, or spirit.” We can restructure this definition of health to apply to the soil. Combined with the SSSA’s definition of soil, “Soil health” can be defined as “the state of the soil being in sound physical, chemical, and biological condition, having the capability to sustain the growth and development of land plants.” John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 What Does Soil Do Regulating water. Soil helps control where rain, snowmelt, and irrigation water goes. Water and dissolved solutes flow over the land or into and through the soil. Sustaining plant and animal life. The diversity and productivity of living things depends on soil. Filtering potential pollutants. The minerals and microbes in soil are responsible for filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying organic and inorganic materials, including industrial and municipal by- products and atmospheric deposits. Cycling nutrients. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and many other nutrients are stored, transformed, and cycled through soil. Supporting structures. Buildings need stable soil for support, and archeological treasures associated with human habitation are protected in soils. http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf Soil Components To appreciate the complexity of soil health in different agricultural systems, we have to learn about the components of the soil. Soil is composed of solid particles, developed through the soil-forming processes. These particles have different shapes and sizes, and are classified as sand, silt, or clay based on their size. The soil particles make up about 45% of the volume of soil A soil that is saturated with water will have no air in the pore spaces, while a soil that is dried out will have predominantly air in the pore spaces. The total pore spaces are about 50% in a soil with a very good structure In an ideal cropping soil, the remaining 5% of soil would be made up of the soil organic matter, which is biological material at various stages of decomposition. Organic matter provides the food for soil organisms that regulate nutrient availability to plants and many other soil functions that maintain or improve land productivity John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Definitions of Soil Quality The Holistic definition Soil Quality is the capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, within ecosystem and land-use boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and promote plant and animal health” (Doran and Zeiss, 2000). Understanding soil quality means assessing and managing soil so that it functions optimally now and is not degraded for future use. By monitoring changes in soil quality, a land manager can determine if a set of practices are sustainable John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 and Doran, J.W., and M.R. Zeiss. 2000. Soil health and sustainability: Managing the biotic component of soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology,15,3–11. Soil Quality for Different Stakeholders For people active in production agriculture: it may mean highly productive land, sustaining or enhancing productivity, maximizing profits, or maintaining the soil resource for future generations; For consumers, it may mean plentiful, healthful, and inexpensive food; For naturalists, it may mean soil in harmony with the landscape and its surroundings; For the environmentalist, it may mean soil functioning at its potential in an ecosystem with respect to maintenance or enhancement of biodiversity, water quality, nutrient cycling, and biomass production. http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf  Assessment of Soil Quality The quality of a soil is an assessment of how it performs ALL of its functions now and how those functions are being preserved for future use. Soil Assessment focuses on the matching of the specific soil requirements of the land use with the properties of the soil. Most of soil assessments have been made for agricultural land uses and cropping systems, but the same principles could be applied for other applications The purpose is to protect and improve long-term productivity, water quality, and habitats of all organisms including people. It cannot be determined by measuring only crop yield, water quality, or any other single outcome Soil quality cannot be measured directly, so we evaluate indicators. Indicators are measurable properties of soil or plants that provide clues about how well the soil can function. Indicators can be physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Indicators can be assessed by qualitative or quantitative techniques. After measurements are collected, they can be evaluated by looking for patterns and comparing results to measurements taken at a different time or field http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf  Soil Health Managing soil health means implementing practices that either maintain or enhance the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological attributes to improve soil functions. The functioning of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the soil is not mutually exclusive. They operate synergistically and interact in a complex way to deliver specific soil services and to enhance ecosystem functions, such as nutrient availability, A way to visualize sustainable productivity in relation to soil health is to think of a wheel, where the hub of soil health relies on the spokes of the soil’s physical, chemical, and biological functions operating in synergy to drive sustainable productivity John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health- Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , Soil Has Both Inherent And Dynamic Quality Inherent soil quality is a soil’s natural ability to function. ❑ Sandy soil drains faster than clayey soil ❑ Deep soil has more room for roots than shallow soils These characteristics do not change easily Dynamic soil quality is dependent on how a soil is managed. It depedns on ❑ The amount of soil organic matter ❑ soil structure ❑ soil depth water and nutrient holding capacity ❑ Soils respond differently to management depending on the inherent properties of the soil and the surrounding landscape http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf Highlights of Soil Physical Properties Physical Properties include: Soil Texture: Type of soils: ( sand, silt, clay) will define such as how fast water will flow within soil, how much water the soil can hold, and how fertile the soil will be. For example, soils with a high percentage of clay will drain water slowly compared to soils with a high sand percentage. Bulk density which is a measure of how closely the soil particles are packed together If soil particles are packed too closely together, that soil is a compacted soil. Compacted soils will inhibit plant rooting and water movement in the soil Soil Structure will affect water movement, resistance to erosion, and nutrient cycling. The distribution of these aggregates in terms of size affects the soil’s ability to withstand wind/water erosion and its pore size distribution. John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020  Highlight of Soil Chemical Properties Chemical Nutrients: There are 17 nutrient elements that most land plants need for productive growth and development. These are: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, manganese, boron, copper, chlorine, iron, nickel, and molybdenum. Carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen are often not a concern since these nutrients are obtained through the air and soil water. Elements of concern for soil fertility management are classified into three categories: ❑ The first category is called primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. ❑ The second category is called secondary nutrients: calcium, magnesium and sulfur. These nutrients are needed in substantial amounts, but much less than the primary nutrients ❑ The third category is called micronutrients: zinc, manganese, boron, copper, chlorine, iron, nickel, and molybdenum. They are needed in small quantities, but they play a large role in plant growth and development. Epstein, E., and A.J. Bloom. 2005. Mineral nutrition of plants: Principles and perspectives,2nd ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates) and John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Highlight of Soil Chemical Properties (Contn) pH: The optimal pH for soil nutrient absorption is between 6.5 and 7.5. Within this range, most soil nutrient elements will be available for crop uptake Salinity and Sodium Problems: ❑ Salinity is the accumulation of excess salts within the rooting depth of plants. Excess salts in the soil can lead to plant disorders and eventual death if not well managed. Sodium problems occur when the amount of exchangeable sodium in the soil is too high relative to calcium and magnesium ions. ❑ Sodium problems occur when the amount of exchangeable sodium in the soil is too high relative to calcium and magnesium ions Epstein, E., and A.J. Bloom. 2005. Mineral nutrition of plants: Principles and perspectives,2nd ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates) and John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Soil Properties Indicators PHYSICAL CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL SOIL ORGANIC MATTER TYPES OF Soil structure pH Microbial biomass INDICATORS Depth of soil Electrical C and N Infiltration and bulk conductivity Potentially density Extractable N-P-K mineralizable N Water holding capacity Soil respiration. RELATION TO Retention and Biological and Microbial catalytic Soil fertility SOIL HEALTH transport of water and chemical activity potential and Structure nutrients thresholds repository for C Stability Habitat for microbes Plant and and N Nutrient Estimate of crop microbial activity Soil productivity retention productivity potential thresholds and N supplying Soil erosion. Compaction, plow pan, Plant available potential water movement nutrients and Microbial activity Porosity potential for N measure Workability and P loss http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf The five trophic levels; Biological Properties The soil food web is extremely complex, with different classes of organisms occupying different trophic (feeding) levels (Scheu, 2002). There are five trophic levels defined for the soil food web that transform nutrients from one form to another ❑ LEVEL 1: At the bottom of the food web (Level 1) are materials produced from photosynthesis, such as dead plant parts that become organic matter that helps feed the soil communities animal waste products like manures and artificially created materials, such as composts, and many other biologically based soil amendments, all of which can be added to enrich the soil. The organic compounds found in plants, organic amendments, and waste byproducts supply energy and carbon for most of the soil organisms and provide a foundation for healthy soils. ❑ LEVEL 2: includes decomposers, such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and several other microscopic organisms, all of which are actively breaking down the organic materials in the soil. This decomposition causes nutrients contained in the organic materials to be released as elements that plants can use for growth and development. This process is called mineralization of the organic matter, where organic compounds are converted to forms that the plant roots can use. Level 2 also includes mutualists, pathogens, parasites, and root feeders, all of which can be present in the soil. Pathogens, parasites, and root feeders are disease-causing organisms in soil that can affect plant productivity. Part of good soil health practices involves minimizing these disease-causing soil organisms while also maximizing beneficial soil organisms The five trophic levels (CTD) ❑ LEVEL 3: includes grazers, shredders, and predators. Some of the organisms at this level are small arthropods (insects), larger nematodes, and protozoa, which feed on smaller microorganisms. An important example of this type of soil organism is the earthworm. Earthworms perform very important functions in agricultural soils, feeding on dead and decomposing organic materials and dragging them from the soil surface into deeper soil layers. Apart from nutrient cycling, earthworms can improve soil water infiltration and retention as they create channels in the soil due to their upward and downward movement while finding organic materials to feed upon ❑ Levels 4 and 5: of the soil food web are mostly composed of higher-level predators. Level 4 predators are smaller, including several insects and nematodes that actively feed on organisms lower in the soil food web. Level 5 predators are composed mostly of larger vertebrate animals that feed on soil insects, worms, and other invertebrates John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service), in John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Managing For Soil Quality 1) Add Organic Matter ❑ Regular additions of organic matter are linked to many aspects of soil quality. Organic matter may come from crop residues at the surface, roots of cover crops, animal manure, green manure, compost, and other sources. Organic matter, and the organisms that eat it, can improve water holding capacity, nutrient availability, and can help protect against erosion. 2) Avoid excessive tillage. ❑ Tillage has positive effects, but it also riggers excessive organic matter degradation, disrupts soil structure, and can cause compaction. 3) Carefully manage fertilizer and pesticide use. ❑ Fertilizer can increase plant growth and the amount of organic matter returned to the soil They can harm non-target organisms and pollute water and air if they are mismanaged Manure and other organic matter also can become pollutants when misapplied or overapplied http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf Managing For Soil Quality 4) Increase ground cover ❑ Ground cover protects soil, provides habitats for larger soil organisms, such as insects and earthworms, and can improve water availability ❑ Cover crops, perennials, and surface residue increase the amount of time that the soil surface is covered each year 2) Increase plant diversity ❑ Each crop contributes a unique root structure and type of residue to the soil. A diversity of soil organisms can help control pest populations, and a diversity of cultural practices can reduce weed and disease pressures. ❑ Diversity across the landscape and over time can be increased by using buffer strips, small fields, contour strip cropping, crop rotations, and by varying tillage practices. ❑ Changing vegetation across the landscape or over time increases plant diversity, and the types of insects, microorganisms, and wildlife that live on your farm. http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pdf Management Strategies that Lead to Soil Health Maintenance John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health-Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Sources for this Presentation John Idowu, Rajan Ghimire, Robert Flynn, and Amy Ganguli, Soil Health- Importance, Assessment and Management, New Mexco State University , aces.nmsu.edu, January 2020 Electronic Journal of Integrative Biosciences 6(1):3-14. 29 December 2008 Special Issue: Soil Quality for a Sustainable Environment (V.S. Green and K.R. Brye, co-editors) © 2008 by Arkansas S http://www.css.cornell.edu/courses/260/World%20Soil%202.pd Doran, J.W., and M.R. Zeiss. 2000. Soil health and sustainability: Managing the biotic component of soil quality. Applied Soil Ecology, 15, 3–11. Sources for the Presentation A series of information sheets for physical, chemical and biological indicators is available to help conservationists and soil scientists with soil health assessment. Factors affecting, relationship to soil function, methods for improvement, and measurement options are discussed for each topic. Review the How-to Guide to get started. Note: Soil Quality Kit Guides that serve as soil property lesson plans for teachers and educators are available at Soil Quality for Educators. Soil Quality Indicator Sheets How-to Guide (PDF, 416KB) Sources for the Presentation https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/health/assessment/ ?cid=stelprdb1237387 Physical Indicators – Overview (coming soon) Aggregate Stability (PDF, 380KB) Available Water Capacity (PDF, 210KB) Bulk Density (PDF, 340KB) Infiltration (PDF, 315KB) Slaking (PDF, 500KB) Soil Crusts (PDF, 250KB) Soil Structure and Macropores (PDF, 480KB) Sources for the Presentation Chemical Properties Chemical Indicators – Overview (PDF; 344KB) Reactive Carbon (PDF, 1.0MB) Soil Electrical Conductivity (PDF, 210KB) Soil Nitrate (PDF, 673KB) Soil pH (PDF, 265KB) Biological Properties Biological Indicators – Overview (PDF; 375KB) Earthworms (PDF, 485KB) Particulate Organic Matter (PDF, 1.8MB) Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen (PDF, 611KB) Soil Enzymes (PDF, 220KB) Soil Respiration (PDF, 329KB) Total Organic Carbon (PDF, 210KB) Thank you for your Patience and Attention Any Questions ?