ARS | Publication request: SOIL QUALITY: TO REGULATE OR TO MANAGE?

Submitted to: International Soil Tillage Research Organization Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2003
Publication Date: August 22, 2003
Citation: Price, G.H., Smethurst, P.J., Letey, J., Sparrow, L.A., Sojka, R.E. 2003. Soil quality: to regulate or to manage? Proceedings of the 16th Triennial Conference of International Soil Tillage Research Organization: Soil Management for Sustainability. p. 938-942.

Interpretive Summary: The concept of soil quality was conceived in the early 1990s as a parallel to those of air and water quality in response to concerns about soil 'health,' sustainability and environmentally 'friendly' crop production. The concept has the potential to be used by researchers to link soil research issues to broader environmental issues when applying for funds. However unlike air and water, soils have no defined 'pure' state against which measures can be taken and comparisons made. The physical, chemical and biological composition of soils varies widely and no single attribute or soil type can be established as a standard. The choice of appropriate soil properties and their standards depends on the use to which the soil is put. We suggest concentrating on quality management of the soil, rather than managing generically-chosen soil properties, collectively called soil 'quality.' Quality management puts the onus on managers to use the technical tools that are readily available to manage soils and landscapes, and on scientists to develop new tools.

Technical Abstract: The concept of soil quality was conceived in the early 1990s as a parallel to those of air and water quality in response to concerns about soil 'health,' sustainability and environmentally 'friendly' crop production. The concept has the potential to be used by researchers to link soil research issues to broader environmental issues when applying for funds. However unlike air and water, soils have no defined 'pure' state against which measures can be taken and comparisons made. The physical, chemical and biological composition of soils varies widely and no single attribute or soil type can be established as a standard. The choice of appropriate soil properties and their standards depends on the use to which the soil is put. We suggest concentrating on quality management of the soil, rather than managing generically-chosen soil properties, collectively called soil 'quality.' Quality management puts the onus on managers to use the technical tools that are readily available to manage soils and landscapes, and on scientists to develop new tools.