Abstract
The effects of four main practices tillage versus no-tillage, and intensive grazing versus extensive grazing, applied in characteristic agricultural and grazing lands of Crete Island were evaluated in situ using nine soil quality indicators. The following nine representative indicators of soil quality were evaluated using the rapid visual assessment methodology adopted at European level in the context of the EU research project iSQAPER: susceptibility to water and wind erosion, surface ponding (under cropping), formation of tillage pan, soil color, soil porosity, soil structure, susceptibility to slaking, infiltration rate, and biodiversity status. These indicators were measured in 48 agricultural field-plots to adequately represent the four above-mentioned practices and the different types of geomorphological patterns existing in the area. Additionally, 38 agricultural fields were sampled in the topsoil to assess cultivation practices (tillage, no-tillage) on soil organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, exchangeable potassium, available phosphorous, and soil aggregate stability. Based on the indicators rating methodology, the appropriate statistical tests were applied and the soils under different managements were characterized in terms of their potential quality and their general agricultural value. The obtained data showed that in agricultural areas, significant differences were detected between tillage and no-tillage management practices for the indicators of soil structure and consistency and infiltration rate. In grazing land, significant differences were found for the soil quality indicators of susceptibility to erosion and infiltration rate for the corresponding practices of intensive and extensive grazing. Organic carbon content, exchangeable potassium content and aggregate stability were greatly affected in tillage versus no-tillage management practices.
Highlights
The concept of soil quality was first introduced by Mausel [1] as totally connected with the yields of the most profitable crops of the local region under high level of land management
According to the visual symmetry checking of distributions, as far as tillage and no-tillage treatments of the agricultural areas were concerned, it was inferred that in a strict manner, paired differences had come from a continuous symmetrical distribution only for the indicators soil porosity, soil structure, and infiltration rate
Soil quality can be considered as a composite indicator affected by several single soil indicators
Summary
The concept of soil quality was first introduced by Mausel [1] as totally connected with the yields of the most profitable crops of the local region under high level of land management. Larson and Pierce [3], considered the connection of soil quality with productivity a very narrow form that cannot embrace soil’s contribution to environmental quality. The National Research Council of United States [7] regarded soil quality as the soil’s capacity to enhance plant growth without aggravating water and air pollution. Warkentin [8], combining the previous approaches, considered soil quality as the basic concept for sustainable agriculture while Karlen et al [9] focused on the importance of the interaction between several soil attributes and land management
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