Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India

Abstract

Soil quality assessment provides a tool for evaluating the sustainability of alternative soil management practices. Our objective was to develop the most sensitive soil quality index for evaluating fertilizer, farm yard manure (FYM), and crop management practices on a semiarid Inceptisol in India. Soil indicators and crop yield data from a long-term (31 years) fertilizer, manure, and crop rotation (maize, wheat, cowpea, pearl millet) study at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) near New Delhi were used. Plots receiving optimum NPK, super optimum NPK and optimum NPK + FYM had better values for all the parameters analyzed. Biological, chemical, and physical soil quality indicator data were transformed into scores (0 to 1) using both linear and non-linear scoring functions, and combined into soil quality indices using unscreened transformations, regression equation, or principal component analysis (PCA). Long-term application of optimum inorganic fertilizers (NPK) resulted in higher soil quality ratings for all methods, although the highest values were obtained for treatment, which included FYM. Correlations between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and the various soil quality indices showed the best relationship (highest r) between yield and a PCA-derived SQI. Differences in SQI values suggest that the control (no NPK, no manure) and N only treatments were degrading, while soils receiving animal manure (FYM) or super optimum NPK fertilizer had the best soil quality, respectively. Lower ratings associated with the N only and NP treatments suggest that one of the most common soil management practices in India may not be sustainable. A framework for soil quality assessment is proposed.

Effects of vegetation restoration types on soil quality in Yuanmou dry-hot valley, China

“…According to the method described by Bastida et al (2006) and Masto et al (2008), a soil quality index (SQI) was established. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to select the appropriate indices and their weighting factors.…”

“…If the high factor variables were not correlated with each other, then each was considered important and thus retained. Among wellcorrelated parameters, the parameter with the highest factor loading was chosen for the SQI (Bastida et al 2006;Masto et al 2008;Sinha et al 2009;C. Zhang et al 2011b).…”

“…If the factor loadings of the parameter in the PCA is "+" (meaning "more is better"), −2.5 was used as the slope value; otherwise ("-", meaning "less is better"), 2.5 was used as the b value (Bastida et al 2006;Masto et al 2008;Sinha et al 2009;C. Zhang et al 2011b).…”

Effect of Maize/Haricot Bean Intercropping on Soil Fertility Improvement under Different Tied Ridges and Planting Methods, Southeast Ethiopia

“…The decline in these soil properties is interconnected to the improper use of inorganic fertilizer and lack of organic fertilization, practices that are now widespread in the most intensive agriculture in developing countries [2]. For instance, repeated-application of urea under crop production and soil fertility improvement program is not only causing nutrient imbalances, but also negatively affecting the physical and biological properties of the soils [3].…”

Alterações nas propriedades químicas e microbianas de solos cultivados com videiras sob manejo orgânico e convencional no sul do Brasil

“…Increases in chemical and microbial soil characteristics were observed in other studies of organic farming, mainly with regard to microbial biomass, organic matter sequestration and nutrient retention, depending on the quantity and quality of the applied manure, organic supplementation, and crop rotation with legumes (Graham & Haynes, 2006;Marriott & Wander, 2006;Flieβbach et al, 2007;Probst et al, 2008). In India, data from a field study of soil quality as related to fertilizer and manure application for 31 years showed the highest quality indices in manuretreated plots (Masto et al, 2007).…”