Visual soil evaluation: A summary of some applications and potential developments for agriculture

Ball, B. C.; Guimarães, Rachel Muylaert Locks; Cloy, Joanna M.; Hargreaves, P.; Shepherd, T. Graham; McKenzie, Blair M.

doi:10.1016/j.still.2016.07.006

Cited by 90 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Because, the VESS method assesses soil structural quality only up to 25 cm depth; hereby, the VESS cannot capture degradation in structural features below 25 cm depth (Ball et al., ) and may not suggest reliable management requirement (Emmet‐Booth et al., ). Therefore, methods such as SubVESS (Ball et al., , ) or DS (Emmet‐Booth et al., ) considering below 25 cm depth are needed to assess the structural quality of conventionally tilled soils. Moreover, the beneficial effect of tillage as indicated by low VESS scores will prevail only for the short term due to the adverse impact of breaking aggregates on the loss of organic carbon (Cherubin et al., ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Visual methods have been increasingly preferred to directly examine the impacts of land use and management practices on soil structure due to the simplicity, reliability and low cost of the assessment procedure (Guimarães et al., ; Leopizzi, Gondret, & Boivin, ). Field level visual evaluation of soil structural quality provides reliable information on the current state of soil and guides farmers in evaluating the effects of management practices on the sustainability of their productions (Ball et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Porosity, size, shape and strength of aggregates are the most common attributes determined in soil structural quality assessments (Guimarães et al., ). The VESS methods focus on size, strength and shape of soil aggregates and rooting density, which have significant effects on water storage and transport, root development and nutrient uptake (Ball et al., ). The VESS results have been compared with penetration resistance (Guimarães et al., ), bulk density (Newell‐Price, Whittingham, Chambers, & Peel, ), aggregate stability and soil water (Moncada et al., ) to determine their reliability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the long‐term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

Çeli̇k

Günal

Acar

et al. 2019

Soil Use and Management

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Current agricultural practices and their impacts on the sustainability of crop production can be evaluated by simple and reliable soil structure assessment tools. The study was conducted to determine the effects of long‐term (2006–2017) tillage systems on structural quality of a clayey soil using the visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) and classical field and laboratory measurements. A field experiment with seven tillage systems, representing both traditional and conservation tillage methods, was conducted on a clayey soil in the Cukurova region, Turkey. Soil samples from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–25 cm depths were analysed for mean weight diameter (MWD), porosity and organic carbon. Penetration resistance (PR) was determined in each treatment plot. The VESS scores (<2) of upper 0–5 cm indicated a good structural quality for all tillage systems. The VESS scores were positively related to PR and MWD and negatively to macroporosity (MaP) and total porosity. In reduced and no‐till systems, poorer soil structures were observed in subsurface layers where firm platy and angular blocky structures were defined. Mean VESS score (3.29) in 20–25 cm depth where PR was 3.01 MPa under no‐till indicated a deterioration of soil structural quality; thus, immediate physical interventions would be needed. Lower VESS scores and PR values under strategic tillage which was created by ploughing half of no‐till plots in November 2015 indicated successful correction of compaction caused by long‐term no‐till. The results suggest that the VESS approach is sensitive and useful in distinguishing compacted layers within the topsoil.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the long‐term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

Çeli̇k

Günal

Acar

et al. 2019

Soil Use and Management

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“…The interpretation of VESS scores was conducted according to Ball et al (2007), which is based on requirements to change management practices to preserve soil structural quality: Sq = 1 and Sq = 2, good soil structural quality, requiring no changes in management practices; Sq = 3, adequate soil structural quality; however there is need for improved soil management to avoid a further decline in soil quality (Ball et al, 2017). Therefore, we considered Sq = 3 as a provisional threshold from which soil starts to decline its structural quality; Sq = 4 and Sq = 5, indicate poor soil structural quality, requiring urgent remedial management practices.…”

Section: Visual Evaluation Of Soil Structure Measurementsmentioning

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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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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“…Apesar dessa divisão ser bem estabelecida, os atributos estão interligados e, para que sejam eficientes na identificação da qualidade do solo, é necessário determinar valores e/ou padrões críticos (Gomes et al, 2006;Melloni et al, 2008). Ball et al (2016) demonstraram que métodos de avaliação visual do solo podem ser utilizados para detectar processos de compactação do solo, podendo ser aplicadas nas decisões de gestão para melhoria do solo, além de conhecimentos e ideias para a inovação na agricultura. Com as avaliações visuais da estrutura do solo, pode-se entender aspectos biológicos, como apresentado por Franco et al (2016), onde foi demonstrado que a deterioração da estrutura do solo correlaciona-se com a abundância e riqueza de macroinvertebrados no solo, com decréscimo nas áreas impactadas.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Proposal of RAQS methodology for evaluation of soil quality

Souza

Melloni

Ferreira

et al. 2016

Revista Brasileira De Geografia Física

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O monitoramento da qualidade do solo por meio de indicadores visuais é recomendado por diversos autores e pode ser utilizado em estudos relacionados à sustentabilidade de ambientes. No entanto, há diferentes metodologias que podem ser empregadas para esse monitoramento e uma análise comparativa das mesmas não tem sido relatada, dificultando sua padronização e emprego. O objetivo desse trabalho foi propor uma nova metodologia de avaliação visual da qualidade do solo. Dessa forma, foram aplicadas, neste estudo, cinco metodologias de avaliação visual em pastagens sob diferentes condições, que possibilitaram a elaboração e aplicação da nova metodologia denominada RAQS (Referência para Avaliação da Qualidade do Solo). Todas as metodologias possibilitaram a avaliação da qualidade do solo de forma fácil, rápida e sem custos, apesar da variação da sensibilidade. A metodologia RAQS mostrou-se útil, facilmente replicável e de grande sensibilidade na avaliação da qualidade do solo, englobando maior número de indicadores de solo, plantas e fauna, em relação às demais metodologias. Palavras-Chave: Ambientes, Indicadores, Manejo do solo, Pastagem.

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Visual soil evaluation: A summary of some applications and potential developments for agriculture

Cited by 90 publications

References 39 publications

Evaluating the long‐term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

Evaluating the long‐term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

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

Proposal of RAQS methodology for evaluation of soil quality

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