Range Management Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Ecological Site Descriptions
Monitoring & Assessment
Long Term Ecological Research
Long Term Agricultural Research
Landscape Toolbox
Data Catalogs
EcoTrends
 

Title: APPROACHES TO ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF RANGELAND SOILS

Authors
item Herrick, Jeffrey
item Whitford, Walter - US-EPA

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 1, 1994
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Soil quality can be defined as the soil's capacity to perform selected functions, to resist degradation and to recover following disturbance. It depends on interactions between the soil, soil fauna and vegetation, and therefore, may serve as a useful integrated indicator of overall ecosystem condition. Definitions of ecosystem condition, however, depend on management objectives. We will present an approach for calibrating indicators of semi-arid rangeland soil quality for a variety of management objectives. This integrated approach will be illustrated with preliminary data from a study of semi-arid rangeland in the Chihuahuan Desert. These data, together with other recent studies, suggest that spatial patterns may be as useful as average values of soil properties in assessing soil quality for non-cultivated systems.

   
 
 
Last Modified: 06/19/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House