Using the Soil Conditioning Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon Effects on Soil Carbon USDA Natural Resources Conservation USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Service Soil Quality National Technology Soil Quality National Technology Development Team Development Team
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Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects on Soil Carbon USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Quality National Technology.
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Using the Soil Conditioning Index Using the Soil Conditioning Index to Assess Management Effects to Assess Management Effects
on Soil Carbonon Soil Carbon
USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceUSDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Soil Quality National Technology Soil Quality National Technology
Development TeamDevelopment Team
Lesson Objectives
• Introduce the Soil Conditioning Index
– Discuss the tool’s background
– Explain how the model works
• Convey the current and potential uses of SCI
• Highlight the SCI considerations in RUSLE2
Water & Nutrient
Holding
Benefits of Soil Carbon
Time
Soi
l Qua
lity Aggregation &
Infiltration Productivity
Air & Water Quality; Wildlife Habitat
Soil Carbon
Historic Loss of Soil Carbon
30003500400045005000550060006500700075008000
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
Year
So
il C
(g
m-2
)
ConventionalTillage
ReducedTillage
53% of 1907
61% of 1907
(Lal et al., 1998)
The Soil Conditioning Index (SCI):
• Expresses the effects of the system on Expresses the effects of the system on organic matter trends as a primary indicator organic matter trends as a primary indicator of soil conditionof soil condition
• Provides a means to evaluate and design Provides a means to evaluate and design conservation systems that maintain or conservation systems that maintain or improve soil conditionimprove soil condition
SCI Timeline
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
• Origins trace back to 1950’s ARS research in Renner, Texas
• SQI and NSSC make changes to OM maintenance levels (2000)
• SQI adds soil texture component (2001)
• SQI and NSSC calibrate to US using coefficients for climate & decomposition in RUSLE (2002)
• NSSC Agronomists further develop model and apply it to 1980’s practice criteria
SCI Potential Uses:
• Automatic output from RUSLE2
• Based on actual conservation plan
• Can help landowner with decision-making
• Valid at the field scale
• Based on NRI data• Holds promise for
watershed, MLRA, state & national uses
• Currently, part of CSP and Resource Quality Criteria
Field Office Tool Performance Measure
Soil Conditioning Index (SCI=Soil Disturbance+Plant Production+Erosion)
+ 1- 1
Improving
Degrading Sustaining
SCI
Car
bon
(lbs
)
The SCI formula is: (OM x 0.4) + (FO x 0.4) + (ER x 0.2) =SCI(OM x 0.4) + (FO x 0.4) + (ER x 0.2) =SCI
• OM accounts for organic material returned to OM accounts for organic material returned to the soil (as a function of biomass produced)the soil (as a function of biomass produced)
• FO represents field operation effects FO represents field operation effects
• ER is the sorting and removal of surface soil ER is the sorting and removal of surface soil material by sheet, rill and/or wind erosionmaterial by sheet, rill and/or wind erosion
Where:Where:
SCI Model Variables:
Field Operations
Biomass Production
Erosion
Biomass Production
OM subfactor calculation:OM =(RP - MA) / MAOM =(RP - MA) / MA
• RP is average annual above and below RP is average annual above and below ground biomass returned to the soil ground biomass returned to the soil – includes mulch or manureincludes mulch or manure– expressed as REV (corn equivalent) expressed as REV (corn equivalent)
• MA is Maintenance OM Level (REV) for the MA is Maintenance OM Level (REV) for the location location
Where:Where:
43999 *RENNER TX 5719
Maintenance Amt. Including
Roots
CITY CODE CITY STATE
Reference Condition
27497 LINCOLN NE 545528002 LAS VEGAS NV 199733003 RALEIGH NC 585834001 BISMARK ND 433934002 WILLISTON ND 408434248 FARGO ND 474935001 CLEVELAND OH 5420