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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #104233
Title: SOIL QUALITY IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION

Author
item Karlen, Douglas
item Brejda, John
item Moorman, Thomas

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/3/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Conservationists and land managers continue to have many questions about the concept of soil quality. Our objective for this workshop is to provide background information about the concept and a summary of results from a recent soil quality assessment in the "driftless region" of northwestern Illinois, northeastern Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, and southwestern Wisconsin. The purpose for soil quality assessment is to determine "how a soil is functioning" with regard to biological, chemical, and physical properties and processes for whatever use is being imposed upon the land. The initial soil quality assessment for the driftless region suggested that there may be no "optimum" set of soil quality indicators for evaluations at the regional scale. However, if only one soil attribute were to be used for monitoring soil quality, measurement of organic carbon appears to be one of the best indicators for assessing soil condition.