Soil Quality Indicators among Different Farming Systems

Published Feb 4, 2011

Abstract

Soil samples were collected in summer 2009 at 11 different farm “pods” in different areas of Iowa, each pod containing fields and pastures with different management practices. Perennial vegetation resulted in significantly higher total soil carbon and stable aggregate content. Continuously grazed pastures had significantly higher carbon content in the surface six inches and significantly higher stable aggregate content than rotationally grazed pastures.