Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Conclusions

1.	A practical, defensible protocol has been developed for assessing soil quality (for agriculture) at a broad Ecodistrict or regional level using the Land Suitability Rating System (LSRS) and standard soils data bases.
2.	A companion protocol has been developed for assessing the impacts of different cropping and management options on the potential trends in soil quality using EPIC predictions in combination with LSRS. Census of Agriculture data is a basic input.
3.	Application of the protocols to 15 pilot areas, representing the range in agricultural conditions in Alberta, suggest that, in general, soil quality is being maintained by present management in the subhumid Boreal Transition and Parkland regions (Grey to Black soils) and is declining in the semi-arid Grasslands (Brown soils). However there are exceptions.
4.	Specific combinations of soil - landscape, crop rotation and tillage intensity options were assessed which allowed the identification of situations which could increase or decrease soil quality.
5.	Particularly sensitive and potentially degrading situations were related to decreases in organic matter resulting from potential erosion on sandy or hilly areas or a high proportion of fallow. Marginal soil - landform situations were more sensitive (less resilient) to crop management options than better soils in any region.
6.	The amount of variation between units varied with scale, becoming smaller (more muted) as the unit size increased. Sensitivity to change also decreased at broader scales of compilation.
7.	The results indicate a potential application of the procedure for: evaluating present soil quality conditions at a regional level. targeting potentially degrading situations, and predicting the impact of alternate crop / management options on soil quality.

This information is provided by W.W. Pettapiece, K.L. Haugen-Kozyra and L.D. Watson.

Other Documents in the Series

Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Executive Summary
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Introduction
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Methods and Materials
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Results and Discussions
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: Conclusions - Current Document
Soil Quality Analysis and Trends at a Regional Scale: References

For more information about the content of this document, contact Len Kryzanowski.
This document is maintained by Laura Thygesen.
This information published to the web on April 15, 1998.
Last Reviewed/Revised on October 1, 2014.