Soil health assessment in agricultural areas in Southern Brazil: an approach using multiple methodologies and application scales

• Grant number: 24/02508-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: December 07, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Roberto Cherubin
• Grantee: Viviana Meneghini
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10573-4 - Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), AP.CEPID
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/21096-0 - Towards an ecological understanding of soil health in Brazilian agriculture: A path analysis, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Climate change adaptation management solutions that improve soil health are key strategies for achieving production stability and making the productive environment more resilient. Metrics representing soil health in large areas and in a simple way should be studied to facilitate management practices and sustainable land use. In this sense, the Soil Health Index (ISS) represents a robust quantitative basis that has been explored throughout the world. On the other hand, there is the Management Quality Index (IQM), which consists of a potential qualitative metric of production practices and lacks research to investigate its use. The SOHMA Soil Health Kit is a simple tool that can be applied in the field. This study seeks to evaluate soil health in agricultural areas in southern Brazil with contrasting management systems using multiple methodologies and application scales. For this purpose, soil samples will be collected in 12 areas in the 0.0-0.30 m and 0.0-1.0 m layers in contrasting management systems in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Management quality indicators will be calculated to obtain the IQM. The soil health indicators investigated include chemical, physical and biological attributes and the calculation of the ISS (field and laboratory). In addition, the SOHMA Soil Health Kit will be applied, generating a field ISS. It is expected that changes caused by management practices will be detected by both IQM and ISS. In addition, management practices that improve soil health are expected to result in greater productivity.