A Soil Quality Index to Evaluate the Vermicompost Amendments Effects on Soil Properites

Abstract

The aims of this work were 1) to evaluate the changes in soil properties with the application of different amounts of vermicompost (10 and 20 Mg?ha<sup>–1</sup>), and 2) to construct a soil quality index that allows the evaluation of changes in the most sensitive soil parameters. The study was carried out in a cattle field of General Alvear, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Vermicompost application showed a positive effect on most of the chemical and biological soil properties evaluated, especially with the higher dose (20 Mg?ha<sup>–1</sup>). There were slight but significant increases in electrical conductivity and soil pH with the higher dose of vermicompost. Physical soil properties were not affected by the vermicompost amendment. The SQI showed a significant increase of soil quality with the vermicompost dose of 20 Mg?ha<sup>–1</sup>, especially by enhancing the biochemical and biological properties

Cumulative effects of a 17‐year chemical fertilization on the soil quality of cropping system in the Loess Hilly Region, China

“…The soil-quality index (SQI) can be used to summarize the information given by the measured parameters as a whole (Romaniuk et al, 2011). Compared with NF, the SQI of treatment N0P0 increased by 3.5% and 5.4% in the surface and subsurface soils.…”

“…A scientific and reasonable soil-quality assessment method should consider not only the interaction of soil parameters but also the effect of each soil indicator's weight on the soil-quality-assessment result (Romaniuk et al, 2011). Based on the literature, a weighted method was employed in this study with Eq.…”

“…Fixing critical values depends on the nature of the soil, climate, goals, and values in reference soil (usually used forest, virgin soil, or undisturbed ecosystem, etc.). Finally, the indicator scores were integrated into a single soil-quality index (SQI), which was always used to evaluate the capacity of a specific kind of soil to function within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries (Masto et al, 2008;Romaniuk et al, 2011).…”

“…Karaca et al, 2011). The emphasis on these factors risks neglecting the comprehensive influence of continuous fertilization on integrated soil quality, which would better reflect the potential for promoting soil productivity and alleviating soil contamination or even environmental deterioration (Edmeades, 2003;Romaniuk et al, 2011;Yan et al, 2011). Therefore, an understanding of the effect of long-term chemical fertilization on integrated soil quality is critical for soil care.…”

Investigating Spatial Distribution of Soil Quality Index and Its Impacts on Corn Yield in a Cultivated Catchment of the Chinese Mollisol Region

“…A scientifically reasonable soil quality assessment method should consider not only the interactions of soil indicators but also the effect of each soil indicator's weight on the soil quality assessment result (Romaniuk et al, 2011). Based on the literature, a weighted method was used:…”