华北平原土壤质量与农业生产的关系

Sustainable agricultural production is of vital importance to food supply security. This study aimed to investigate crop yield response to spatial variability of soil quality at a county scale in the North China Plain(NCP) and subsequently derive key soil quality indicators. Soil samples were geo-referenced and taken in 2008 from both surface(0–20 cm) and subsurface(20–40 cm) layers in132 fields throughout the Fengqiu County, located in the centre of the NCP, for subsequent soil properties' analyses. Annual crop yields were obtained from the same fields where soil samples were collected. Soil quality was evaluated based on a fuzzy set with 13 soil properties, and its spatial distributions were investigated by integrating geostatistical analysis and geographic information system(GIS) techniques. Soil quality indices were classified into five grades, and their spatial distributions were mapped within the county.The surface soil qualities were about one to two grades higher than the subsurface soil. The quality indices for surface and subsurface soils were positively associated with the annual crop yields, suggesting the importance of both. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen,available P, and available K contributed 50% of the combined weight to the soil quality index and were identified as key indicators of soil quality status in the area in terms of sustainability.     

采用土壤质量指数评估施肥对集约型稻麦轮作系统中土壤物理性质的影响

Soil quality assessment has been suggested as an effective tool for evaluating sustainability of soil and crop management practices.The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive soil quality index(SQI) based on bulk density(BD),water-holding capacity(WHC),water-stable aggregates(WSA),aggregate mean weight diameter(AMWD),total organic C(TOC) and C input to evaluate the important rice-wheat cropping system on an Inceptisol in India.A long-term experiment has been conducted for 18 years at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research,Modipuram,India.The treatments selected for this study were comprised of a no-fertilizer control and N,P and K fertilizers(NPK) combined with Zn and S fertilizers(NPK+ Zn+S),farmyard manure(NPK+FYM),green gram residues(NPK+GR) and cereal residues(NPK+CR),laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications.Soil samples were collected and analyzed for BD,WHC,WSA and TOC.Correlation analysis revealed that both rice and wheat yields signi?cantly increased with the increases in AMWD,TOC and C input,but decreased with the increase in BD.The SQI values were then generated based on regression analysis of BD,WSA,AMWD,TOC and C input with rice and wheat yields for the 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil layers,respectively.Regression analyses between crop yields and SQI values showed a quadratic type of relation with the coeffcient of determination(R~2) varying from 0.78 to 0.89.With regard to soil sustainability,applying crop residues to both rice and wheat could maintain soil quality for a longer period,whereas the highest yields of both the crops were recorded in the NPK+Zn+S treatment.The regression equations developed in this study could be used to monitor soil quality in a subhumid tropical rice-wheat cropping system.     

田间尺度下测定土壤有效K、P的采样方法

Field nutrient distribution maps obtained from the sutdy on soil variations within fields are the basis of precision agriculture,The quality of these maps for maagement depends on the accuracy of the predicted values,which depends on the initial sampling.to Produce reliable predictions efficently the minimal sampling size and combination should be decided firstly,which could avoid the misspent funds for field sampling work.A 7.9 hectare silage field close to the Agricultural Research Institute at Hillaborough,Northern Irealnd,was selected for the study,Soil samples were collected from the field at 25m intervals in a rectangular grid to provide a database of selected soil propoerties.Different data combinations were subsequently abstracted from this database for comparison purposes,and ordinary krging used to produce interpolated soil maps.These prediced data groups were compared using least significant difference(LSD) test method.The results showed that the 62 sampling sizes of triangle arrangement for soil available K were sufficient to reach the required accuracy.The triangular sample combination proved to be superior to a rectangular one of similar sample size.     

Neural network ensemble residual kriging application for spatial variability of soil properties

High quality, agricultural nutrient distribution maps are necessary for precision management, but depend on initial soil sample analyses and interpolation techniques. To examine the methodologies for and explore the capability of interpolating soil properties based on neural network ensemble residual kriging, a silage field at Hayes, Northern Ireland, UK, was selected for this study with all samples being split into independent training and validation data sets. The training data set, comprised of five soil properties: soil pH, soil available P, soil available K, soil available Mg and soil available S,was modeled for spatial variability using 1) neural network ensemble residual kriging, 2) neural network ensemble and 3) kriging with their accuracies being estimated by means of the validation data sets. Ordinary kriging of the residuals provided accurate local estimates, while final estimates were produced as a sum of the artificial neural network (ANN) ensemble estimates and the ordinary kriging estimates of the residuals. Compared to kriging and neural network ensemble,the neural network ensemble residual kriging achieved better or similar accuracy for predicting and estimating contour maps. Thus, the results demonstrated that ANN ensemble residual kriging was an efficient alternative to the conventional geo-statistical models that were usually used for interpolation of a data set in the soil science area.     

天然载体控释氮肥研究初探

The Wangdonggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau in China was selected as the study area to develop a model for soil erosion assessments. Using the data collected at 20 sampling sites all tentatively selected indicators were assessed against their corresponding erosion intensity through a correlation analysis. Eight highly correlated indicators were then chosen for the soil erosion assessment. In addition, threshold limits to delineate the class size for these indicators and weights to rank them were determined. Next, a grading model incorporating the selected indicators class rating and their associated weights was developed and verified by an on site evaluation of the soil erosion intensity in the study area. Results of the verification showed that the overall accuracy of the indicator system for assessing soil erosion in the Loess Plateau gully regions could reach 85%.     

黄土高原沟壑区土壤侵蚀评价指标体系——以中国王东沟流域为例

The Wangdonggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau in China was selected as the study area to develop a model for soil erosion assessments. Using the data collected at 20 sampling sites all tentatively selected indicators were assessed against their corresponding erosion intensity through a correlation analysis. Eight highly correlated indicators were then chosen for the soil erosion assessment. In addition, threshold limits to delineate the class size for these indicators and weights to rank them were determined. Next, a grading model incorporating the selected indicators class rating and their associated weights was developed and verified by an on site evaluation of the soil erosion intensity in the study area. Results of the verification showed that the overall accuracy of the indicator system for assessing soil erosion in the Loess Plateau gully regions could reach 85%.     

菱镁矿区土壤质量退化研究

Fourteen soil properties in 17 sampling sites were analyzed to study the soil degradation in a magnesite mining area in Haicheng City,Northeast China.Such areas have hitherto received little attention.The current practices of magnesite mining in this area resulted in degradation of soil quality and specifically led to an increase in soil pH,the ratio of magnesium to calcium,bulk density,clay dispersibility,total magnesium and equivalent calcium carbonate and a decrease in surface soil porosity and available phosphorous.The soil quality in the areas affected by intensive mining activity was obviously worse than that of areas far away from the mine.Four factors were identified and "magnesium factor","pH factor" and "fertility factor",involving 13 soil properties,explained 82% of the total variance in the entire data set.Discriminant analysis showed that the total magnesium,water-soluble calcium and available phosphorous were the most sensitive indicators for soil quality.     

不同种植模式和土壤类型条件下土壤健康的定量评价

Soil health assessment is an important step toward understanding the potential effects of agricultural practices on crop yield, quality and human health. The objectives of this study were to select a minimum data set for soil health evaluation from the physical, chemical and biological properties and environmental pollution characteristics of agricultural soil and to develop a soil health diagnosis model for determining the soil health status under different planting patterns and soil types in Chongming Island of Shanghai, China. The results showed that the majority of the farmland soils in Chongming Island were in poor soil health condition, accounting for 48.9% of the survey samples, followed by the medium healthy soil, accounting for 32.2% of the survey samples and mainly distributed in the central and mid-eastern regions of the island. The indicators of pH, total organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and Cd exerted less influence on soil health, while the soil salinization and nitrate accumulation under a greenhouse cropping pattern and phosphate fertilizer shortage in the paddy field had limited the development of soil health. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes and Hg contributed less to soil health index (SHI) and showed no significant difference among paddy field, greenhouse and open-air vegetable/watermelon fields. The difference of the SHI of the three soil types was significant at P = 0.05. The paddy soil had the highest SHI values, followed by the gray alluvial soil, and the coastal saline soil was in a poor soil health condition, indicating a need to plant some salt-tolerant crops to effectively improve soil quality.     

喀麦隆南部地区酸性土壤上增加P的施入后土壤质量和玉米生长的关系

A large array of soil properties influences plant growth response to phosphorus （P） fertilizer input in acid soils. We carried out a pot experiment using three contrasted acid soils from southern Cameroon with the following main objectives： i） to assess the main soil causal factors of different maize （Zea mays L.） growth response to applied P and ii） to statistically model soil quality variation across soil types as well as their relationships to dry matter production. The soils used are classified as Typic Kandiudox （TKO）, Rhodic Kandiudult （RKU）, and Typic Kandiudult （TKU）. Analysis of variance, regression, and principal component analyses were used for data analysis and interpretation. Shoot dry matter yield （DMY） was significantly affected by soil type and P rate with no significant interaction. Predicted maximum attainable DMY was lowest in the TKO （26.2 g pot^-1） as compared to 35.6 and 36.7 g pot^-1 for the RKU and TKU, respectively. Properties that positively influenced DMY were the levels of inorganic NaHCO3-extractable P, individual basic cations （Ca, Mg, and K）, and pH. Their effects contrasted with those of exchangeable Al and C/N ratio, which significantly depressed DMY. Principal component analysis yielded similar results, identifying 4 orthogonal components, which accounted for 84.7% of the total system variance （TSV）. Principal component 1 was identified as soil nutrient deficiency explaining 35.9% of TSV. This soil quality varied significantly among the studied soils, emerging as the only soil quality which significantly （P 〈 0.05） correlated with maize growth. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th components were identified as soil organic matter contents, texture, and HCl-extractable P, respectively.     

集约经营雷竹林土壤微生物的演变

Phyllostachys praecox C. D. Chu et C. S. Chao, a favored bamboo shoot species, has been widely planted in recent years. Four stands with different historical management practices were selected for this study to understand the evolution of soil microbial ecology by determining the effects of a new mulching and heavy fertilization practice on soil quality using microbiological parameters. Compared with the traditional practice (index 1), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil microbial respiration carbon (MRC) with the new management practice significantly decreased (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) with 1--2 years of mulching (index 2) and then for continued mulching significantly increased (P < 0.05). The ratios of MBC/TOC (total organic carbon) and MRC/TOC also significantly diminished (P < 0.05) with mulching. The average well color development (AWCD) and Shannon index decreased with mulching time, and the significant decrease (P < 0.05) in Shannon index occurred from index 2 to index 3. The results from a principal components analysis (PCA) showed that the scores of the first principal component for indexes 1 and 2 were significantly larger (P < 0.05) than soils mulched 3--4 years or 5--6 years. Also, the second principal component scores for index 1 were larger than those for index 2, suggesting that the ability of soil microorganisms to utilize soil carbon was decreasing with longer use of the new management practice and causing a deterioration of soil biological properties.     

Effects of Conjunctive Use of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nutrients on Soil Quality Indicators and Soil Quality Index in Sole Maize,Maize + Soybean,and Sole Soybean Cropping Systems in Hot Semi-arid Tropical Vertisol

The soils in the hot semi-arid tropical (SAT) regions generally have low organic matter and nutrient reserves. Soil-management problems in these soils primarily occur because of poor physical conditions and inadequate drainage through excess runoff, finally resulting in poor crop growth. Hence, the present investigation was conducted to study the long-term impact of conjunctive nutrient use treatments on soil quality indicators and soil quality indices under three cropping systems: (i) sole soybean, (ii) soybean + maize, and (iii) sole maize cropping systems at the Indore Centre of the All-India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA) using Navjot and JS-335 as cultivars of maize and soybean, respectively. In 2005, the soil quality assessment study under this experiment was undertaken after 8 years of experimentation. Soil quality assessment was done by identifying the key indicators using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear scoring technique (LST). Soil quality indices (SQI) and relative soil quality indices (RSQI) were also computed. Results revealed that most of the soil quality parameters were significantly influenced by the conjunctive nutrient management treatments. The common key indicators that emerged in all the treatments were pH, organic carbon (OC), exchangeable magnesium (Mg), available zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and boron (B). The soil quality indices across the management treatments under sole maize system varied from 1.70 to 2.40 and application of 20 kg nitrogen (N) (compost) + 20 kg N through urea as top dressing emerged as a one of the most superior treatments with SQI value of 2.40. The soil quality indices in maize + soybean system varied from 1.12 to 1.47 and application of 20 kg N (compost) + 20 kg N through urea + azotobacter at 2 kg ha^?1 proved to be significant with the greatest SQI value of 1.47. In the case of the sole soybean system, the SQI varied from 1.21 to 1.61. After considering all the systems together, the average best performance SQI score (ABP-SQI score) was computed, which varied from 1.14 to 1.56. The greatest value was recorded in the treatment with 20 kg N (compost) + 20 kg N (gliricidia) + 10 kg N (urea). The quantitative relationship developed in this study between mean soybean and maize yields (Y) and RSQI values (X), irrespective of the management treatments, could be quite useful to predict the yield quantitatively with respect to a given change in key indicators for these rainfed Vertisols.     

Soil‐quality‐index model for assessing the impact of groundwater on soil in an intensively farmed coastal area of E China

Soil quality is important in measuring sustainable land‐use and soil‐management practices. It is usually assessed by evaluating important physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. For this study, a site‐specific 22 variables representing pertinent soil (0–10 cm) and groundwater properties were selected as potential soil‐quality indicators in a coastal salt‐affected farmland of E China. To investigate the role of groundwater in soil‐quality assessment, we designed two sets of minimum data sets (MDSs). Minimum data set 1 (MDS1) had inputs of the 19 soil chemical and physical properties whereas MDS2 was based on the 22 soil and groundwater properties. Using principal‐component analysis, discriminant analysis, and soil‐quality‐index (SQI) model, we demonstrated the procedures of MDS selection, indicator normalization, and integration of MDS into SQI value for soils used for the two cropping systems. Results indicated selection of SOCD, AK, and ρ_b as MDS1 indicators but MDS2 indicators included SOM, SOCD, Cl, Na, WT_g, and EC_g. These were found to be the most effective discriminators between the two cropping systems. Available K (AK) made greatest contribution to SQI using MDS1 indicators, however, WT_g, EC_g, and Cl were the greatest contributors to the SQI for MDS2. Contribution of SOCD to SQI was severely inhibited in cotton–barley rotation system while EC_g and WT_g contributions to SQI were inhibited in rice–rape rotation system. In general, cotton–barley rotation system had a better soil quality over rice–rape rotation system as the former had higher SQI values than the latter for both MDSs. Crop parameters did also exhibit significant relationship with the SQI values using MDS2 but it was not significant for MDS1. Our results suggest that in addition to soil chemical, physical, and biological indicators, groundwater properties particularly the WT_g and EC_g are also important for assessing soil quality in an intensively farmed coastal area.     

Long‐term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub‐humid tropical rice‐rice system

Widespread yield stagnation and productivity declines in the rice–rice cropping system have been reported and many of the associated issues are related to soil quality. A long‐term experimental study was initiated in 1969 to assess the impact of continuous cultivation of rice as a single crop grown in wet as well as dry seasons using varying levels of chemical fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality indicators (physical, chemical and biological), a sustainable yield index (SYI) and a soil quality index (SQI). The treatments comprised chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) either alone or in combination viz. control, N, NP, NK, NPK, FYM, N+FYM, NP+FYM, NK+FYM and NPK+FYM, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected after the wet season rice harvest in 2010 and were analysed for physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality. A SYI based on long‐term yield data and SQI using principal component analysis (PCA) and nonlinear scoring functions were calculated. Application of NPK fertilizers in combination with FYM significantly increased the average grain yield of rice in both wet and dry seasons and enhanced the sustainability of the system compared to the control and plots in receipt of fertilizers. The SYI for the control was higher in the wet season than in the dry one, whereas the reverse was true for NPK+FYM treatment. The value of the dimensionless SQI varied from 1.46 in the control plot to 3.78 in the NPK+FYM one. A greater SYI and SQI in the NPK+FYM treatment demonstrated the importance of using a chemical fertilizer in combination with FYM. For the six soil quality indicators selected as a minimum data set (MDS), the contribution of DTPA‐Zn, available‐N and soil organic carbon to the SQI was substantial ranging from 59.4 to 85.7 per cent in NPK+FYM and control plots, respectively. Thus, these soil parameters could be used to monitor soil quality in a subhumid tropical rice–rice system.     

基于最小数据集的吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量评价

黑土作为吉林中部平原粮食主产区主要土壤类型,其质量的优劣直接影响区域生态安全和农业可持续发展。该研究以吉林省典型黑土耕层土壤作为研究对象,采集1 401个土壤样本,测定8项土壤理化指标及玉米产量。采用最小数据集法筛选评价指标,对于黑土耕层土壤进行质量评价,并综合土壤质量指数和产量提出评价指标的适宜范围。结果表明：吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量评价最小数据集由耕层容重、有机质、速效磷、pH构成,由全量数据集（Total Data Set,TDS）、重要数据集（Important Data Set,IDS）和最小数据集（Minimum Data Set,MDS）分别计算的土壤质量指数之间存在显著正相关关系,R2分别为0.716、0.771,表明MDS可以替代TDS对黑土耕层土壤质量进行评价。黑土玉米种植区耕层土壤质量指数分布在0.22～0.75之间,均值为0.53,呈现东部高西部低的趋势。土壤质量指数随产量先增加后降低。黑土耕层保持较高土壤质量及产量的评价指标适宜范围分别为：容重为1.23～1.43 g/cm3,酸碱度（pH值）为4.74～6.96,有机质为33.14～35.81 g/kg,有效磷为122.46～136.06 mg/kg。该研究结果可为吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量诊断、提高黑土肥力及选择适合农田管理措施提供理论及参数支撑。     

Long-term soil management effects on crop yields and soil quality in a dryland Alfisol

A long-term experiment was conducted with the objective of selecting the appropriate land management treatments and to identify the key indicators of soil quality for dryland semi-arid tropical Alfisols. The experiment was conducted using a strip split–split plot design on an Alfisol (Typic Haplustalf) in southern India under sorghum (Sorghum vulgare (L))-castor (Ricinus communis (L)) bean rotation. The strip constituted two tillage treatments: conventional tillage (CT) and minimum tillage (MT); main plots were three residues treatments: sorghum stover (SS), gliricidia loppings (GL), ‘no’ residue (NR) and sub plots were four nitrogen levels: 0 (N₀), 30 (N₃₀), 60 (N₆₀), and 90 kg ha⁻¹ (N₉₀). Soil samples were collected after the sixth and seventh year of experimentation and were analyzed for physical, chemical and biological parameters. Sustainable yield index (SYI) based on long-term yield data and soil quality index (SQI) using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear scoring functions were calculated. Application of gliricidia loppings proved superior to sorghum stover and no residue treatments in maintaining higher SQI values. Further, increasing N levels also helped in maintaining higher SQI. Among the 24 treatments, the SQI ranged from 0.90 to 1.27. The highest SQI was obtained in CTGLN₉₀ (1.27) followed by CTGLN₆₀ (1.19) and MTSSN₉₀ (1.18), while the lowest was under MTNRN₃₀ (0.90) followed by MTNRN₀ (0.94), indicating relatively less aggradative effects. The application of 90 kg N ha⁻¹ under minimum tillage even without applying any residue (MTNRN₉₀) proved quite effective in maintaining soil quality index as high as 1.10. The key indicators, which contributed considerably towards SQI, were available N, K, S, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and hydraulic conductivity (HC). On average, the order of relative contribution of these indicators towards SQI was: available N (32%), MBC (31%), available K (17%), HC (16%), and S (4%). Among the various treatments, CTGLN₉₀ not only had the highest SQI, but also the most promising from the viewpoint of sustainability, maintaining higher average yield levels under sorghum–castor rotation. From the view point of SYI, CT approach remained superior to MT. To maintain the yield as well as soil quality in Alfisols, primary tillage along with organic residue and nitrogen application are needed.     

基于产量的稻田肥力质量评价及障碍因子区划——以进贤县为例

土壤肥力质量评价及土壤肥力障碍因子分析,对于区域土壤利用和改良、指导农业生产结构布局具有重要意义。以江西省进贤县为研究区,通过水稻遥感解译测产,结合主成分分析进行土壤质量评价;采用综合指数法表征土壤肥力质量水平,分析该区域低肥力质量区域主要障碍因素,并进行障碍因子区划。结果表明,该地区土壤肥力质量评价的最小数据集(MDS)指标包括:有机质、阳离子交换量(CEC)、全钾(TK)、交换性钙(Ex.Ca)、容重、粉黏比;土壤质量综合指数与水稻产量相关系数达到0.73(p0.01),以当地水稻平均产量7.215 t hm~(-2)确定土壤质量综合指数阈值为0.65。分析得出,该地区影响土壤肥力的主要障碍包括有机质含量低和容重较大反映的低熟化度障碍、中量元素缺乏反映的酸化障碍、全钾含量低和高粉黏比反映的结构障碍等。根据障碍因素将研究区域划分为三大障碍区:东南部丘陵区主要障碍因子为酸化和土壤结构障碍;中西部低岗平原主要为土壤酸化障碍;北部滨湖区主要障碍为水稻土熟化程度低。通过对不同区域施行针对性改良措施有益于提高土壤肥力。     

Indexing Soil Quality under Long-Term Maize-Wheat Cropping System in an Acidic Alfisol

A study was undertaken to identify suitable indicators of soil quality from a long-term fertilizer experiment conducted since 1972, which was laid out in a randomized block design with eleven treatments replicated three times. Surface (0–0.15 m) soil samples were collected after harvest of wheat crop during 2010–11 and were analyzed for physical, chemical, and biological properties. Sustainable yield index (SYI) was calculated based on long-term yield data. Highest and lowest overall SYI values were found in balanced fertilization along with manures and urea-only treatments, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, pH, labile carbon, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), pentetate zinc trisodium (DTPA Zn), and nitrogen mineralization were most important minimum dataset (MDS) indicators. The greatest soil quality index (SQI) value was found in balanced fertilization along with manures followed by balanced fertilization along with lime; and the urea-only treatment was the lowest. Balanced fertilization along with manures showed positive change in soil quality and maintained sustainability of productivity.     

基于最小数据集的黄土高原矿区复垦土壤质量评价

矿产开发影响了土壤质量,特别是在黄土高原生态脆弱地区。通过植被恢复能够改善矿区复垦土壤质量。为了揭示矿区复垦土壤质量在植被恢复过程中的变化,该文以黑岱沟矿区排土场不同恢复年限不同植被类型、未复垦地和周边自然植被恢复区为研究对象,选取21项理化生指标作为总数据集(totaldataset,TDS),运用主成分分析(principal component analysis,PCA)结合Norm值构建评价指标最小数据集(minimum data set,MDS),通过非线性(non-Linear,NL)和线性(linear,L)两种评价方法对研究区土壤质量进行了评价。研究表明:黄土高原北部典型矿区复垦土壤质量评价指标MDS包括粉粒百分比、有机质、速效磷、钠吸附比和微生物碳;2种评价方法下,植被恢复均对复垦土壤质量指数(soil quality index,SQI)有了显著提升(P 0.05),复垦20 a灌木SQI高于复垦10 a灌木SQI,复垦12 a草本SQI高于复垦20 a草本SQI,然而所有复垦土壤SQI均未达到自然植被恢复土壤SQI;由于非线性土壤质量评价方法(SQI-NL)具有更大的土壤质量指数变化区间和变异系数,此外,在SQI-NL和线性土壤质量(SQI-L)评价两种方法下,MDS和TDS之间决定系数分别为0.911和0.866,因此,非线性土壤质量评价方法在该区域具有更好的适用性,并且最小数据集能够较准确地进行土壤质量评价。     

Quantifying the interactions of land management practices and agricultural productivity using a soil quality index

It is desirable to develop an objective Soil Quality Index (SQI) to guide sustainable agronomic intensification, thereby promoting socio‐economic well‐being. This study pioneers the use of Ward's cluster and principal component regression methods to evaluate soil homogeneity and construct a SQI (expressed as %). Field data were acquired from five different sites within Ohio, USA, that were under no‐till (NT), conventional till (CT) management and natural vegetation (NV) land use. Soil pH, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, nitrate and soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations were identified as primary drivers of soil quality. Based on Ward's cluster method, the soil properties of croplands were not significantly different from those under NV land use. However, SQI ranked surface soils under CT management as higher in quality than NV and NT managed soils, respectively. The coefficient of determination (R²) between SQI and corn (Zea mays L.) and soya bean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yields was 0.7 and 0.9, respectively, implying this SQI effectively relates soil properties, a function of anthropogenic land management practices, with crop yields. In future, time series analyses will be used to assess SQI versus crop yield dynamics, with key socio‐economic and climate variables.     

Effects of Soil Management Practices on Key Soil Quality Indicators and Indices in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke)–Based System in Hot Semi-arid Inceptisols

Rainfed Inceptisol soils, despite their agricultural potential, pose serious problems, including soil erosion, low fertility, nutrient imbalance, and low soil organic matter, and ultimately lead to poor soil quality. To address these constraints, two long-term experiments were initiated to study conservation agricultural practices, comprising conventional and low tillage as well as conjunctive use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients in Inceptisol soils of Agra center of the All-India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture (AICRPDA). The first experiment included tillage and nutrient-management practices, whereas the second studied only conjunctive nutrient-management practices. Both used pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Linn) as test crop. These experiments were adopted for soil quality assessment studies at 4 and 8 years after their completion, respectively, at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Hyderabad, India. Soil quality assessment was done by identifying the key indicators using principal component analysis (PCA), linear scoring technique (LST), soil quality indices (SQI), and relative soil quality indices (RSQI). Results revealed that most of the soil quality parameters were significantly influenced by the management treatments in both the experiments. In experiment 1, soil quality indices varied from 0.86 to 1.08 across the treatments. Tillage as well as the nutrient-management treatments played a significant role in influencing the SQI. Among the tillage practices, low tillage with one interculture + weedicide application resulted in a greater soil quality index (0.98) followed by conventional tillage + one interculture (0.94), which was at par with low tillage + one interculture (0.93). Among the nutrient-management treatments, application of 100% organic sources of nutrients gave the greatest SQI of 1.05, whereas the other two practices of 50% nitrogen (N) (organic) + 50% (inorganic source) (0.92) and 100% N (inorganic source) (0.88) were statistically at par with each other. The various parameters that emerged as key soil quality indicators along with their percentage contributions toward SQI were organic carbon (17%), exchangeable calcium (Ca) (10%), available zinc (Zn) (9%), available copper (Cu) (6%), dehydrogenase assay (6%), microbial biomass carbon (25%) and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (27%). In experiment 2, SQI varied from 2.33 to 3.47, and 50% urea + 50% farmyard manure (FYM) showed the greatest SQI of 3.47, which was at par with 100% RDF + 25 kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) (3.20). Under this set of treatments, the key soil quality indicators and their contributions to SQI were organic carbon (19%), available N (20%), exchangeable Ca (3%), available Zn (4%) and Cu (17%), labile carbon (20%), and mean weight diameter of soil aggregates (17%). The quantitative relationship established in this study between mean pearl millet yields (Y) and RSQI irrespective of the management treatments for both the experiments together could be quite useful to predict the yield quantitatively with respect to a given change in soil quality for these rainfed Inceptisols. The methodology used in this study is not only useful to these Inceptisols but can also be used for varying soil types, climate, and associated conditions elsewhere in the world.