Soil Quality Physical Indicators: Selecting Dynamic Soil Properties to Assess Soil Function. Soil Quality Technical Note No. 10

摘要

Soil quality is defined as the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function, within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries, to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation (Karlen et al. 1997). The quality of a soil, or its capacity to function, is a reflection of its inherent and dynamic properties. Inherent, or use-invariant, soil properties change very little or not at all with management. Inherent soil properties form over thousands of years and result primarily from the soil-forming factors: climate, topography, parent material, biota, and time. Examples of inherent properties are soil texture, type of clay, depth to bedrock, and drainage class. Many inherent soil properties are evaluated by the National Cooperative Soil Survey. They are used for taxonomic classification and to develop localized soil suitability interpretations and limitations. An evaluation of these properties can be used to suggest how well soil will function for septic systems, building support, road fill, agricultural production, or other uses.