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Identification of Regional Soil Quality Factors and Indicators I. Central and Southern High Plains
Author(s) -
Brejda John J.,
Moorman Thomas B.,
Karlen Douglas L.,
Dao Thanh H.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj2000.6462115x
Subject(s) - environmental science , soil quality , land use , soil water , soil test , soil series , soil classification , organic matter , soil organic matter , scale (ratio) , soil type , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geography , geology , ecology , cartography , biology , geotechnical engineering
Appropriate indicators for assessing soil quality on a regional scale using the National Resource Inventory (NRI) are unknown. Our objectives were to (i) identify soil quality factors present at a regional scale, (ii) determine which factors vary significantly with land use, and (iii) select soil attributes within these factors that can be used as soil quality indicators for regional‐scale assessment. Ascalon (fine‐loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argiustoll) and Amarillo (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic Aridic Paleustalf) soils were sampled from a statistically representative subset of NRI sample points within the Central and Southern High Plains Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) and analyzed for 20 soil attributes. Factor analysis was used to identify soil quality factors, and discriminant analysis was used to identify the factors and indicators most sensitive to land use within each MLRA. In the Central High Plains, five soil quality factors were identified, with the organic matter and color factors varying significantly with land use. Discriminant analysis selected total organic C (TOC) and total N as the most sensitive indicators of soil quality at a regional scale. In the Southern High Plains, six factors were identified, with water stable aggregate (WSA) content, TOC, and soil salinity varying significantly with land use. Discriminant analysis selected TOC and WSA content as the most sensitive indicators of soil quality in the Southern High Plains. Total organic C was the only indicator that consistently showed significant differences between land uses in both regions.