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Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon

Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Quality National Technology Development Team. Lesson Objectives. Introduce the Soil Conditioning Index Discuss the tool’s background

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Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon

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  1. Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Quality National Technology Development Team

  2. Lesson Objectives • Introduce the Soil Conditioning Index • Discuss the tool’s background • Explain how the model works • Convey the current and potential uses of SCI • Highlight the SCI considerations in RUSLE2

  3. Soil Carbon Aggregation & Infiltration Productivity Water & Nutrient Holding Air & Water Quality; Wildlife Habitat Benefits of Soil Carbon Soil Quality Time

  4. Historic Loss of Soil Carbon Conventional Tillage Reduced Tillage 61% of 1907 53% of 1907 (Lal et al., 1998)

  5. The Soil Conditioning Index (SCI): • Expresses the effects of the system on organic matter trends as a primary indicator of soil condition • Provides a means to evaluate and design conservation systems that maintain or improve soil condition

  6. SQI and NSSC make changes to OM maintenance levels (2000) • Origins trace back to 1950’s ARS research in Renner, Texas 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 • SQI adds soil texture component (2001) • NSSC Agronomists further develop model and apply it to 1980’s practice criteria • SQI and NSSC calibrate to US using coefficients for climate & decomposition in RUSLE (2002) SCI Timeline

  7. Automatic output from RUSLE2 Based on actual conservation plan Can help landowner with decision-making Valid at the field scale Based on NRI data Holds promise for watershed, MLRA, state & national uses Currently, part of CSP and Resource Quality Criteria SCI Potential Uses: Field Office ToolPerformance Measure

  8. Improving - 1 + 1 Degrading Sustaining SCI Soil Conditioning Index(SCI=Soil Disturbance+Plant Production+Erosion) Carbon (lbs)

  9. The SCI formula is:(OM x 0.4) + (FO x 0.4) + (ER x 0.2) =SCI • OM accounts for organic material returned to the soil (as a function of biomass produced) • FO represents field operation effects • ER is the sorting and removal of surface soil material by sheet, rill and/or wind erosion Where:

  10. Erosion Field Operations Biomass Production Biomass Production SCI Model Variables:

  11. OM subfactor calculation:OM =(RP - MA) / MA • RP is average annual above and below ground biomass returned to the soil • includes mulch or manure • expressed as REV (corn equivalent) • MA is Maintenance OM Level (REV) for the location Where:

  12. Location

  13. Erosion Field Operations Field Operations Biomass Production SCI Model Variables:

  14. Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) Soil Tillage Intensity Rating(STIR)

  15. Aggrading Steady State Degrading FIELD OPERATIONS (FO) SUBFACTOR

  16. Erosion Erosion Field Operations Biomass Production SCI Model Variables:

  17. Aggrading Steady State Degrading EROSION (ER) SUBFACTOR TABLE 4 EROSION (ER) SUBFACTOR

  18. NSSC and Long-term OM Research Sites

  19. SCI Outcomesat NSSC initial calibration sites

  20. SCI Validationusing systems across the U.S.

  21. SCI Validationusing systems across the U.S.

  22. Regression of SCI Outcomes and Measured Carbon Change

  23. Running SCI in RUSLE2

  24. RUSLE2 Features Affecting SCI • User addition of irrigation water • User addition of wind- and irrigation-induced erosion • User-adjustable crop yield • User-adjustable residue burial amount • User-adjustable mulch or external residue application

  25. Add wind erosion from WEQ and irrigation induced erosion.

  26. SCI Summary • Easy to use tool to estimate soil condition • Validated using long term research data • SCI is being used nationally for conservation assessment in CSP & CEAP • Now part of RUSLE2 and coming to a field office near you!!

  27. Soil Conditioning Indexin RUSLE2 http://fargo.nserl.purdue.edu/ rusle2_dataweb/RUSLE2_Index.htm

  28. The Ultimate Goal The End

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