Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
Table
1
Summary
of
measurement
tools
relating
soils
and
sustainable
agriculture.
Measurement tool
Crop(s)
Soil properties
Assessment method(s)
d
n
1
r
2
n
g
|
9
Field to Market
Initiative for
Sustainable
Agriculture
Corn, cotton,
rice, soy, wheat
Soil erosion
potential, soil
carbon
Revised Universal Soil
Loss Equation 2
(RUSLE2); Wind
Erosion Prediction
System 1.0 (WEPS 1.0)
Stewardship
Index for
Specialty Crops
Vegetables, fruits,
nuts,
horticulture
Soil organic
matter, total
organic carbon
Total organic carbon
present in soil / carbon
storage potential
(determined by USDA's
Soil Management
Assessment Framework)
Cool Farm Tool
Grain, legume,
fruit and
vegetable crops;
livestock
Soil moisture, soil
type, soil organic
matter, soil
drainage, pH,
soil carbon
Soil and foliage tests
gas emissions. Table 1 summarises the three measurement tools discussed
above.
3 Sustainability Schemes in the USA
The following section summarises select sustainability schemes currently used
by agricultural producers in the USA to document farming practices for
purposes of benchmarking, verification, certification and continual improve-
ment over time. Although the following schemes differ in scope, types of
production systems assessed and mode of implementation, there is extensive
overlap in the specific soil properties addressed and the methods used to
monitor and/or quantify them.
3.1 California Almond Board Sustainability Program
The California Almond Sustainability Program,
19,20
developed by the
California Almond Board, is a self-assessment tool used by almond growers
to benchmark their farming practices against a range of best management
practices and other measures of farm efficiency. The assessment currently
consists of three modules: Irrigation Management, Nutrient Management and
Energy Efficiency.
The Irrigation Management
19
module guides growers through the process of
determining irrigation volume and timing based on key soil parameters. The
tool provides information on available water for different soil types (coarse,
sandy, medium, fine), typical efficiencies of various types of irrigation systems
