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M.Sc.Thesis_PMCI2021(Final Draft).pdf (2.31 MB)

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Soil Carbon as A Soil Quality Indicator of A Fruit Orchard In Puerto Rico

Cordero-Irizarry, Patricia Marie
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618594104520193

Abstract Details

2021, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Soil quality is defined as the soil’s capacity to function within natural or managed ecosystems to sustain plant-animal-human health. It can be inferred from the quantification of soil properties which can be combined into a soil quality index (SQI). An SQI is a value that combines soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and scores the soil’s “fitness to function”. Soil management practices (SMP), which differ depending on the landholder’s agenda, can increase or decrease soil carbon (C) storage, which is an important parameter used for SQI calculation. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate the impact of SMP on physicochemical properties in an avocado orchard (AVO) and a tropical pumpkin/bean (TPB) plot and (2) to develop an SQI for each system. The study was conducted in the Juana Diaz Agricultural Experimental Station located in the south-central coast of Puerto Rico and the predominant soil series was San Anton. Both systems scored 0.55 on the 0 to 1 SQI scale, suggesting that higher soil C content does not imply an improvement in soil physicochemical quality. However, reduced tillage operations and natural ground cover have a positive impact on soil quality indicators, but not on soil physicochemical quality itself for this study. Future research priorities should be directed towards the evaluation of soil taxonomical characterization on soil quality and determine its significance if any.
Rattan Lal, Dr. (Advisor)
Jeffory Hattey, Dr. (Committee Member)
Roger Williams, Dr. (Committee Member)
David Sotomayor, Dr. (Committee Member)
167 p.
Agriculture; Agronomy; Environmental Studies; Horticulture; Soil Sciences
soil carbon; soil quality; soil quality index; avocado; soil management; horticulture

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Cordero-Irizarry, P. M. (2021). Soil Carbon as A Soil Quality Indicator of A Fruit Orchard In Puerto Rico [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618594104520193

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cordero-Irizarry, Patricia . Soil Carbon as A Soil Quality Indicator of A Fruit Orchard In Puerto Rico. 2021. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618594104520193.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cordero-Irizarry, Patricia . "Soil Carbon as A Soil Quality Indicator of A Fruit Orchard In Puerto Rico." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1618594104520193

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1618594104520193
307
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