The numeric visual evaluation of subsoil structure (SubVESS) under agricultural production

Ball, B. C.; Batey, T.; Munkholm, Lars J.; Guimarães, Rachel Muylaert Locks; Boizard, Hubert; McKenzie, D. C.; Peigné, Joséphine; Tormena, Cássio Antônio; Hargreaves, P.

doi:10.1016/j.still.2014.12.005

Cited by 46 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Additional studies for evaluating impacts of sugarcane management on soil structure assessed by VESS should be carried out through the whole sugarcane cycle (about five years). Furthermore, subsoil compaction in sugarcane fields should also be evaluated using the field methodology such as SubVESS, proposed by Ball et al (2015). The SubVESS is a methodology for assessing soil structural quality below spade depth, i.e.…”

Section: Thickness Of the Soil Layers Identified By Vessmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing soil structural quality under Brazilian sugarcane expansion areas using Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Cherubin

Franco

Guimarães

et al. 2017

Soil and Tillage Research

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Cherubin, Maurício R.; Franco, André L.C.; Guimarães, Rachel M.L.; Tormena, Cássio A.; Cerri, Carlos E. P.; Karlen, Douglas; and Cerri, Carlos C., "Assessing soil structural quality under Brazilian sugarcane expansion areas using Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)" (2017 Increasing global demand for biofuel has accelerated land-use change (LUC) in Brazil, primarily through the planting of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) to replace degraded pastures. The intensive mechanization associated with this LUC has increased concerns regarding structural quality of Brazilian tropical soils. Through decades of research focusing on identifying sensitive indicators of soil degradation due to land use and management, the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) method has emerged as a simple, fast, reliable and accurate semi-quantitative approach for assessing soil structure changes. VESS integrates soil properties related to size, strength and porosity of aggregates, and root characteristics into a single score (Sq -structural quality) that ranges from 1 (good structural quality) to 5 (poor structural quality). Although the VESS method was developed for temperate soils, it has been used successfully as an indicator of soil and crop management practice effects on structural quality of tropical and subtropical soils. Our objectives were to evaluate soil structural quality changes associated with a LUC sequence (i.e., native vegetation to pasture to sugarcane) at three sites under Oxisols, Alfisols and Ultisols across centralsouthern Brazil using the VESS; and to correlate VESS scores with quantitative measurements of soil physical properties. Average VESS scores were 2.0, 2.7, and 3.1 for native vegetation, pasture, and sugarcane, respectively. Overall the VESS method was able to detect soil structural quality changes under LUC for sugarcane cultivation, indicating a decrease in soil quality from native vegetation through pasture to sugarcane. The VESS scores were significantly correlated with quantitative soil physical property measurements, suggesting VESS is a reliable indicator of soil structural quality in tropical soils. A VESS score Sq = 3.0 seems to be suitable as a guide for management decisions. We conclude that VESS scores provide an efficient method to identify impacts of sugarcane expansion on soil structural quality, and recommend that VESS assessment be incorporated into monitoring protocols for evaluating not only sugarcane expansion areas, but also overall soil quality/health in Brazil.

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Section: Thickness Of the Soil Layers Identified By Vessmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The SubVESS is a methodology for assessing soil structural quality below spade depth, i.e. from 25 to 200+ cm depths (Ball et al, 2015;Batey et al, 2015). We consider subsoil compaction an important concern since sugarcane roots have the potential to explore soil layers much deeper than 25 cm.…”

Section: Thickness Of the Soil Layers Identified By Vessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing soil structural quality under Brazilian sugarcane expansion areas using Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Cherubin

Franco

Guimarães

et al. 2017

Soil and Tillage Research

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“…Subsoil compaction may also be a potentially negative impact of excessive stover harvest under CP as suggested by an average Sq value of 3.88 for the 5-to 20-cm layer. Our assessment did not examine subsoil conditions, although a visual methodology for evaluation of subsoil compaction was recently proposed by Ball et al (2015) and may be useful for assessing the impacts of tillage systems and corn stover harvest for biofuel production.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual Soil Structure Effects of Tillage and Corn Stover Harvest in Iowa

Tormena

Karlen

Logsdon

et al. 2016

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

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Core Ideas VESS detected soil structural quality changes under corn stover harvest and tillage systems. A high level of corn stover harvest had an adverse effect on the soil structural quality. Under high stover harvest, structural quality in chisel plow was worse than in no‐tillage. VESS should be further evaluated as an integrative soil quality/health indicator. High levels of corn (Zea mays L.) stover harvest for ethanol production have raised concerns regarding negative consequences on soil structure and physical quality. Visual soil structure assessment methods have the potential to help address these concerns through simple, straightforward on‐farm evaluations. Our objective was to determine if the visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) approach could detect soil structural quality differences associated with different levels of corn stover harvest and tillage practices. We evaluated no harvest and moderate and high stover harvest levels within no‐tillage (NT) and chisel plow (CP) plots following 7 yr of continuous corn. Undisturbed 10‐ by 20‐ by 25‐cm soil samples were taken using a spade in April 2015. The thickness and structural quality (Sq) scores for the 0‐ to 5‐ (top) and 5‐ to 20‐cm (bottom) soil layers were determined, and an overall Sq was computed. The Sq values showed a significant interaction between corn stover harvest and tillage practice. Soil structural quality showed no significant differences between NT and CP systems for either the no‐ or moderate‐harvest treatments, but with a high stover harvest rate, CP structural quality was worse than NT. With NT, both moderate and high rates of stover harvest significantly increased Sq compared to no harvest; in CP, there was no significant difference between the no‐ and moderate‐harvest treatments. Only a high level of stover harvest had an adverse effect on the Sq rating. The VESS approach was sensitive for detecting the effects of corn stover harvest and tillage systems on soil structural quality and should be further evaluated as an integrative, on‐farm soil quality/health indicator.

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“…13), it is no longer practiced widely in Germany. Detrimental effects to soil structure, soil functions and soil life (2,4,5,6,7,8,16,17) Heavy machines necessary and lots of energy (3,6,8,10,11,12) In no case acceptable (1,2,3,4) Numbers in parentheses indicate the No. of stakeholders and farmers who mentioned the respective aspect.…”

Section: Deep Ploughingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this context, researchers have begun to look more systematically at subsoil functions/the role of subsoil for soil functions and to develop and investigate new strategies of mechanically or biologically intervening in subsoils that aim to tap the subsoil as a resource [10][11][12][13][16][17][18]]. Yet how relevant, feasible, and acceptable are different methods for subsoil management as a strategy that can contribute to the sustainable management of soils and to securing long-term agricultural yields?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ‘Invisible’ Subsoil: An Exploratory View of Societal Acceptance of Subsoil Management in Germany

2018

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Subsoil, commonly defined as horizons below the working depth of 30 cm, has traditionally received little explicit attention in policy discussions on soils. Recently, however, there has been growing recognition among scientists of the issues of subsoil (re-)compaction and of the role of subsoil as a resource that can offer valuable nutrients and water for plants. Subsoil management could provide an option to sustainably maintain yields in the context of climate change and resource scarcity, and it is a central question in addressing subsoil compaction. Yet how socially acceptable are different methods for subsoil management? Drawing on in-depth interviews with farmers and stakeholders in Germany, we show that biophysical conditions, the timing of operations, economic considerations, and awareness of subsoil functions are key factors in the acceptance of management methods. Views towards methods involving mechanical intervention are more diverse and in some cases more critical because the benefits are not always certain, the costs can outweigh the benefits, and/or because they entail risks for soil structure and functions. Alfalfa cultivation is seen to be beneficial for yields without risks for soil structure and functions; however, economic barriers limit its uptake. Awareness of multiple subsoil functions is associated with more critical views of mechanical interventions.

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The numeric visual evaluation of subsoil structure (SubVESS) under agricultural production

Cited by 46 publications

References 25 publications

Assessing soil structural quality under Brazilian sugarcane expansion areas using Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Assessing soil structural quality under Brazilian sugarcane expansion areas using Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

Visual Soil Structure Effects of Tillage and Corn Stover Harvest in Iowa

The ‘Invisible’ Subsoil: An Exploratory View of Societal Acceptance of Subsoil Management in Germany

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