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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #385127
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Cropping Systems on Spatially Variable Landscapes and Soils

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: The Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (SHAPE)

Author
item Veum, Kristen
item NUNES, MARCIO - Orise Fellow
item WILLS, SKYE - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item SEYBOLD, CATHY - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item PARKER, PAUL - University Of Missouri
item HOLAN, SCOTT - University Of Missouri
item AMSILI, JOSEPH - Cornell University
item VAN ES, HAROLD - Cornell University
item KARLEN, DOUGLAS - Retired ARS Employee

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2021
Publication Date: 7/25/2021
Citation: Veum, K.S., Nunes, M.R., Wills, S.A., Seybold, C.A., Parker, P.A., Holan, S.H., Amsili, J.P., Van Es, H.M., Karlen, D.L. 2021. The Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (SHAPE). Proceedings of Soil and Water Conservation Society International Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2021, Virtual.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The response of dynamic soil properties to management and land use is dependent on site-specific factors. The Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (SHAPE) was developed as a flexible tool that accounts for the interaction of inherent climate and edaphic factors when interpreting changes in dynamic soil health indicators based on a peer group approach. The Bayesian model-based SHAPE tool was initially developed for soil organic carbon (SOC) and has been expanded to include active carbon (ActC), autoclaved citrate extractable protein (ACE-Prot), and four-day carbon respiration (Resp). Data were compiled from the literature, the Cornell Soil Health Laboratory, and the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory. The SHAPE scoring curves for SOC, ActC, ACE-Prot and Resp have demonstrated sensitivity to management practices across multiple soil types and provide a regionally relevant interpretation of these key soil health indicators.