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Article: Soil quality indicator properties in mid-Atlantic soils as influenced by conservation management.
- Article from:
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
- Article date:
- January 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Soil & Water Conservation Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT: Soil quality or condition is best assessed by soil properties that are neither so permanent as to be insensitive to management, nor so easily changeable as to give little indication of long-term alterations. Thirteen such intermediate properties were evaluated for potential inclusion in a soil quality index by comparing soils under contrasting management systems from long-term replicated field experiments and from paired field sites. Conservation (v. conventional) management was defined as some combination of reduced tillage, increased crop diversity more perennial crops, increased crop residue return, increased soil fertility and/or increased application of ...