Dynamic soil properties for soil health (DSP4SH) is a Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD)-led effort to partner with universities and others to assess a common set of soil health metrics across diverse soils, regions, and management systems.
Science of Soil Health
Soil health has become an increasingly important area of emphasis in land management, particularly agricultural land management, within NRCS, in the larger scientific community, and with the general public. As interest in soil health management continues to increase, so does the need for consistent, replicable, scientifically sound indicators, associated data, and interpretations that will allow for the assessment and monitoring of how agricultural management practices are affecting soil health.
Dynamic Soil Properties for Soil Health
Through DSP4SH, partners collect standardized soil health metrics nationwide. They investigate regionally relevant agricultural systems and management strategies. They collect soil health samples from locations with a common soil series representing business as usual agriculture, soil health management agriculture, or perennial reference ecosystems. Soil health metrics examined include soil organic carbon, bulk density, aggregate stability, protein content, permanganate-oxidizable carbon, and enzyme activities.
