Soil quality: Some basic considerations and case studies

Dale W. Johnson

Treesearch

Soil quality: Some basic considerations and case studies

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Dale W. Johnson

Year:

2010

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

In: Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Neary, Daniel; Trettin, Carl, tech. eds. Scientific background for soil monitoring on National Forests and Rangelands: workshop proceedings; April 29-30, 2008; Denver, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-59. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 1-12.

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Abstract

Some fundamental properties of soils that pertain to the concept of soil quality are discussed including a discussion of what can and cannot be changed with management.Case studies showing the effects of N-fixing vegetation and N-enrichment effects on invasive species are provided to illustrate the complications that may arise from applying one soil quality standard to all cases. Finally, the “nitrogen problem is discussed: nitrogen is the most frequently growth-limiting nutrient and yet it is also the nutrient that is often the most problematic to manage without causing deleterious effects on the availability of other nutrients and water quality.

Parent Publication

Scientific background for soil monitoring on National Forests and Rangelands: workshop proceedings; April 29-30, 2008; Denver, CO

Keywords

soil monitoring, soil quality standards, National Forests and Rangelands

Citation

Johnson, Dale W. 2010. Soil quality: Some basic considerations and case studies. In: Page-Dumroese, Deborah; Neary, Daniel; Trettin, Carl, tech. eds. Scientific background for soil monitoring on National Forests and Rangelands: workshop proceedings; April 29-30, 2008; Denver, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-59. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 1-12.