Simple Field Tests to Assess Soil Quality in Precision Agriculture

1. Title Simple Field Tests to Assess Soil Quality in Precision Agriculture Apurba Sutradhar BAE/Soil 4213 April 28, 2010 apurba@okstate.edu

2. Soil Quality The capacity of specific kind of soil to function. To evaluate the soil’s ability to perform basic function Maintaining productivity Filtering and buffering against pollutants Storing and cycling nutrients. Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

3. Soil Quality Varies Differences in agricultural practices Till Vs No till Differences in crop growth areas Fast growth Vs Slow growth Differences in slope Plain land Vs Slope land Differences in wheel and non wheel areas Wheel Vs Non wheel Differences in wet and dry areas Wet Vs Dry areas Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

4. Soil Quality Varies Also Field Variability can be determined by Differences in soil type Eroded and non-eroded areas Row and inter -row areas Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

5. Assessing Soil Quality Two fundamental ways- Take measurements periodically over time to monitor changes or trends in soil quality. Compare measured values to a standard or referenced soil condition. Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

6. Soil Quality Testing Kit Developed by John Doran and associates, Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE. Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

7. Soil Quality Testing Kit Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

8. Soil Quality Testing Kit Advantages: On farm test Provide immediate results Can be monitored changes in soil quality over time Can be diagnosed soil health problems due to land use and management. Simple- can be conducted by landowner and extension worker Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

9. Soil Quality Testing Kit An example- Soil Respiration Test Estimated time required : 40 minutes Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

10. Soil Quality Testing Kit An example- Soil Respiration Test CALCULATIONS: Soil Respiration (lb CO2-C/acre/day) = PF x TF x (%CO2 - 0.035) x 22.91 x H PF = pressure factor = 1 TF = temperature factor = (soil temperature in Celsius + 273) ÷ 273 H = inside height of ring = 5.08 cm (2 inches) Source: USDA Soil Quality Test Kit Guide

11. Planning-implementation-monitoring Set Goal Standard Value Scoring Applying Scoring Data Monitoring and Maintenance Intervention Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

12. Data Collection and Scoring Steps Standard values Sum individual indicator values Scoring Sum component values Data collection General score and intervention Apply scoring system Individual indicator intervention Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

13. Standard/Reference Values Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

14. Scoring Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

15. Applying the Scoring System Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

16. Applying the Scoring System Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

17. Applying the Scoring System Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

18. Total Score and Intervention Courtesy: Dr. Kefyalew Desta

19. Online Soil Quality Assessment This SQAalgorithm is under construction

20. References and Links United States Department of Agriculture http://usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome Free Soil Quality Test Kit Guide can be downloaded from http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/files/test_kit_complete.pdf Dr. Kefyalew Desta kefyalew.desta@okstate.edu

21. Comment Questions? Thanks!