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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113500
Title: A SOIL QUALITY INDEX FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

Author
item Karlen, Douglas
item Andrews, Susan
item MITCHELL, J. - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

Submitted to: Proceedings California Plant and Soil Conference Farming in Crisis
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Managers need decision tools for sustainable management. Indices of soil quality may fill this need. We tested 2 methods for choosing a minimum data set (MDS) and 2 methods of index formation. Ten years of chemical, biological, and physical data from vegetable rotations of the Sustainable Agriculture Farming Systems (SAFS) project, near Davis, CA, were used. The MDS components were chosen using principal components analysis (PCA) or expert opinion. Indices were created using an additive index or a decision support system. The efficacy of each minimum data set was tested by multiple regression of MDS variables against management variables such as yield, % weed cover, and water use. For the MDS chosen by PCA for tomato, R**2 values were 0.64 against yield, 0.97 against weeds, and 0.99 against water use. The corn MDS regressed against yield, weeds, and water use had R**2 values of 0.81, 0.90, and 0.90, respectively. Results are reported for organic, low-input and conventional treatments.