Does Landscape Position or Long-Term Management Have a Greater Effect on Soil Health?.

Understanding the interactions of land-use management and topography on soil health is important to create soil maps that capture soil processes. Our goal is to optimize soil health assessments and understand the relationship between soil health indicators, land management, and topographic position. Soils from two sites of long-term research plots in central and northeast Iowa were sampled from 0-15 centimeters, using a modified stratified sampling design based on management treatment, hillslope position, and aspect.

Soil health indices were analyzed in the laboratory. The physical properties measured were soil moisture content and particle size distribution. The biological processes measured were total organic carbon, inorganic and organic nitrogen, and soil respiration. The chemical attribute measured was pH. Results indicate hillslope aspect, hillslope position, and tillage system have the greatest effects on soil health.