Assessing soil quality in the Rolling Pampa, using soil properties and maize characteristics

MADDONNI, G, A.; URRICARIET, S.; GHERSA, C. AND LAVADO. R.S.

AGRONOMY JOURNAL

AMER SOC AGRONOMY

Año: 1999 vol. 91 p. 280 - 287

0002-1962

Intensive land use in the Rolling Pampa of Argentina appears tobe reducing soil quality for crop production. Our objective was to establish the best edaphicand/or plant indicators for assessing soilquality with regard to functioning as a medium for crop production. Nine fields with Typic Argiudoll soils were selected fo revaluation based on agriculture history and apparent soil structural stability. Soilchemical and physical properties and maize (Zea mays L.) vegetative and reproductive characteristics were measured. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied to the data to determine potential indicators of soil quality. Soil and crop variables explained more than 70% of the variance in soil quality among agricultural histories. The edaphic indicators that showed the greatest change from pristine conditions were organic C, total N, P, Mg, K, B, Ca, and Zn contents and cation exchange capacity. Using crop variables, leaf length, maximum fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation, grain yield, kernel number, prolificacy, and total dry matter at physiological maturity, served to establish a soil quality gradient. Variation of maize growth was associated with edaphic indicators of soil quality andrevealed the importance of soil aggregate stability in determine changes in soil quality for crop production.