Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health - Cornell University

1 Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health The Cornell Framework Moebius-Clune, Moebius-Clune, Gugino, Idowu, Schindelbeck, Ristow, van Es, Thies, Shayler, McBride, Kurtz, Wolfe, and Abawi Third Edition School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS). soil and Crop sciences Section 232 Emerson Hall Ithaca, New York 14853. 2016 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Revised June, 2017. It is the policy of Cornell University actively to support equality of educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or handicap.

2 The University is committed to the maintenance of affirmative-action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity. ISBN 0-967-6507-6-3. How to Order a Copy Hardcopy (for purchase): Contact: Aaron Ristow Extension Associate soil and Crop sciences Section 1001 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA. Phone: Email: Electronic copy (download): PDF file(s) are available to download at Cover photo: Troy Bishopp Book design and layout: Bianca Moebius-Clune and Aaron Ristow Unless otherwise noted, the photos were taken by authors, soil Health team members and collaborators. ii Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health - The Cornell Framework Funding Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life sciences Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health What is soil Health ?

3 soil Health is defined as the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, ani- Funding mals and humansfor the2012). (NRCS, preparation Characteristicsof of athis manual was provided by: Cornell University , Cornell healthy soilCooperative include good soilExtension, USDA-NRCS, NY Department of Agriculture and Markets, tilth, sufficient rooting depth, good water storage and drainage, rich and diverse soil life, stored Northern carbon Newsupply and an adequate York Agricultural of nutrients. Development Program, USDA Northeast Region SARE, Climate change, particularly the impacts of CO2 and N2O, can be mitigated NY Farm Viability institute , New through improved soil Health management while at the same Hampshire Charitable Foundation, NH Department of Agriculture, time Food, building soil resilience.

4 TheandhealthMarkets. of a soil can change over time as a result of use and management, therefore it is crucial to measure soil improvement when implementing new or modifying current management practices. The Cornell soil Health Management The Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health is an integral part of the Cornell soil Health Management Planning and Framework Implementation framework. Each grower is generally faced with a unique production en- The framework includes: vironment and set of management options to address soil Six general steps for the planning and implementation Health constraints. A more Comprehensive understanding of process (below).

5 A farm's limitations and opportunities, and soil Health status A Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health report that can better guide producers' soil management decisions. explicitly provides interpretation, Comprehensive prioritization, Assessment and Health of soil man- - The Cornell Framework iii The Cornell approach aims to alleviate field-specific con- agement suggestions (see back). straints, identified through standard measurements, and then Resource concerns identified through soil Health assess- maintain and monitor over time for improved soil Health sta- Acknowledgements This is the 3rd edition of the manual previously titled Cornell soil Health Assessment Training Manual.

6 The 3rd Edition Publication Team Bianca N. Moebius-Clune, formerly soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca NY; now soil Health Division, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Daniel J. Moebius-Clune, formerly soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY. Robert R. Schindelbeck, soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY. Kirsten Kurtz, soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY. Harold M. van Es, soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY. Aaron J. Ristow, soil and Crop sciences , Cornell University , Ithaca, NY. Thanks We would like to thank the Cornell soil Health Team members and collaborators, including growers, extension educators, faculty, staff, non-profit, and governmental organizations, for their many contributions to the research and outreach activities conducted over the years since 2003.

7 Their contributions provided the foundation on which this manual is based. We acknowledge the contributions of Aubrey Fine for her work on the 2016 national scoring function updates and the preliminary development of regional scoring functions for physical and biological indicators. We would like to thank Gordon Holloway for his significant input on book design and layout. Many thanks to Kirsten Kurtz and Jenn Thomas-Murphy for designing the Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health logo and other valuable contributions to this manual. We would like to especially acknowledge the significant contributions of Carol MacNeil, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE); Mike Rutzke, Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory; Dorn Cox, Greenstart, NH; and Brandon Smith, NH NRCS.

8 Past contributors John Ludwig, Research Assistant; Kate Duhamel, Research Assistant; Molly Shaw, CCE; Ted Blomgren, Formerly of CCE; Dale Moyer, Formerly of CCE;. Excerpts from Building Soils for Better Crops, 3rd Edition, by Madgdoff and van Es were adapted throughout the manual. For additional information related to this project and the revision history for this manual please visit the Cornell soil Health Team's website at: Correct citation Moebius-Clune, , Moebius-Clune, Gugino, Idowu, Schindelbeck, Ristow, van Es, Thies, Shayler, McBride, Kurtz, Wolfe, and Abawi, 2016. Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health The Cornell Framework, Edition , Cornell University , Geneva, NY.

9 Iv Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health - The Cornell Framework Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health Training Manual Edition , 2017. TM. Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health - The Cornell Framework v vi Comprehensive Assessment of soil Health - The Cornell Framework Acknowledgements ..iv Table of Contents Part I soil Health What is soil ? ..2 soil Health Indicator Protocols and Scoring cont. Life in the soil ..5 Add-on Test: Potentially Mineralizable What is soil Health ? .. 12 Add-on Test: Root Health Characteristics of a healthy Add-on Test: Heavy Metal Common soil Add-on Test: soil Health Assessment Report .. 72. Part II soil Health 19. Six parts of the CASH summary In-field soil Health Assessment .

10 20. Using the Assessment of soil Health Development of Cornell 's Comprehensive Using the Assessment of soil Health in Assessment of soil 22. soil Health Management Assessment of soil Health 25. soil sampling protocol .. 27 Part III soil Health 79. Materials needed for one soil Health Management Planning Field sampling Six Steps of the soil Health Management Planning Steps for soil soil Health Management Options soil sample storage and 87. soil sample packaging and The soil Health Management Toolbox .. 87. Submission form General management 88. Regulated Tillage soil Health scoring Crop rotation considerations ..90. Regional Cover cropping Cumulative normal CASH summary report page Organic amendment Scoring Considerations for adapting to and mitigating soil Health Indicator Protocols and climate soil Texture.