ARS | Publication request: Soil Quality Assessment -- A Value Added Opportunity for Soil Testing Laboratories

Submitted to: Workshop Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings/Symposium
Publication Acceptance Date: February 28, 2007
Publication Date: February 28, 2007
Citation: Karlen, D.L., Zobeck, T.M., Wienhold, B.J. 2007. Soil Quality Assessment -- A Value Added Opportunity for Soil Testing Laboratories. In: Proceedings of the Eighteenth Soil/Plant Analysts Workshop, February 27-28, 2007, Bettendorf, Iowa. North Central Extension and Research Activity (NCERA-13), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1325. p.63-69.

Technical Abstract: Soil-testing laboratories have an emerging opportunity to provide soil quality (SQ) assessment as a value-added service to clients interested in quantifying the sustainability of their agricultural practices. This presentation briefly reviews the evolution of SQ assessment and introduces four assessment tools with examples of their use in research studies. We conclude that providing SQ assessment services would be a valuable expansion of traditional soil testing, plant analysis and current environmental monitoring (e.g. phosphorus (P) Indices, stalk testing, manure management plans).