Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.2 Soil Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties Comprising a Minimum Data Set
for Soil Health Benchmarking
Soil property and units
Suggested optimum range
Comments
Aggregate stability
<6 (semiquantitative scale
from 0 [no dispersion] to
10 [high dispersion])
Aggregate stability in water;
test developed by Field
et al. (1997)
Air-dry consistence
2-3 (semiquantitative scale
from 0 [loose] to 7 [rigid])
Method set out by the
National Committee on
Soil and Terrain (2009)
pH (1:5 H 2 O)
5.5-8
Soil pH in 0.01M CaCl 2 is
0.5-0.8 units lower than
in water
EC e (dS/m)
<1.8 (higher for salt-tolerant
rootstocks)
Measured in a saturated soil
paste
Chloride (mg Cl/kg soil)
<10
Measured in the saturation
extract
CEC (cmol (+)/kg soil)
15-50 (sands to clay soils)
Measured in an unbuffered
salt solution
Exchangeable cations
(percentage of CEC )—
calcium, magnesium,
potassium, sodium
60-80, 10-15, 1-10, <6,
respectively
Measured on the same
sample as CEC ; if
pH <5.5, measure
exchangeable aluminum
also
SOC (g/100 g soil)
0.5-2.0+ (lower values for
sandy soils and higher
values for clays)
For methods for SOC, SMB ,
and PMN , refer to table
5.7, chapter 5
SMB (mg C/kg soil)
150-400+
PMN (mg N/kg soil/week)
8-18
Note. CEC = cation exchange capacity; EC e = electrical conductivity of the saturation extract; SOC = soil
organic carbon; SMB = soil microbial biomass; PMN = potentially mineralizable nitrogen.
Adapted from Gugino et al. (2009), Oliver et al. (2013), and Riches et al. (2013).
California Association of Winegrape Growers (see www.wineinstitute.org ). he
program defines sustainable winegrowing as “winegrowing and winemaking prac-
tices that are sensitive to the environment, responsive to the needs and interests of
society-at-large, and are economically feasible to implement and maintain” (Wine
Institute of California, 2005-2008). The interaction of these three principles of
sustainability is often illustrated by a diagram such as that in figure 6.10.
A Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices has been developed, which
includes all aspects of winegrowing from soil and vineyard management, through
pest control, energy efficiency, waste management and reduction, to wine quality,
preferred purchasing, and working with neighbors. The CSWP is primarily edu-
cational, and participation is voluntary. Participants keep detailed records of their
activities, which are contributed to a statewide sustainability report. In this way,
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