Sir,

Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi has developed online calculator for soil physical health assessment. You can visit the following website

http://www.iari.res.in/DSS-SPH/

Another bit more comprehensive one developed by Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi which can be found at the following website

http://ssacdss.iari.res.in/index.php

After registration you can use that.

This is a very question Dr Kalra.  We do have some exercises highlighting certain soil parameters , frequently used at farm level assessment   , but i do not think , such attempts will  give holistic picture of soil health assessment , what you mean .  I feel , the criteria for soil health assessment cannot be generalised one ,  for  operational purpose . It needs continuous fine tuning   with respect to nature and properties of soils, for example , acid soils versus salt affected soils. There could be some common soil criteria , we are more concerned with defining criteria for specific soil health assessment , to be able to find some links with crop quality performance . 

Sir,

Division of Agricultural Physics, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi has developed online calculator for soil physical health assessment. You can visit the following website

http://www.iari.res.in/DSS-SPH/

Another bit more comprehensive one developed by Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi which can be found at the following website

http://ssacdss.iari.res.in/index.php

After registration you can use that.

The criteria of ICAR-IARI  as mentioned by Mr Bappa Das is excellent. Bulk density is the best directly measurable indicator to porosity, capillarity and the most complex aspect of soil structure (which is the best indicator of the physical aspects of healthy biological activity). Bulk density crystal clearly explains aeration and percolation capacity as well.

Along with bulk density, the plant available water and organic carbon reveals whether the soil retains sufficient water and biological activity. 

Overall, the ICAR indicator of physical soil health is excellent

Chemical criteria is secondary to physical criteria - I mean it is reliable only if the physical aspects are ok. If a soil has insufficient aeration and is water logged there is no meaning of chemical health even if the nutrient and pH status of a soil is good. However, the significant  chemical parameters are pH, soil organic carbon, % of Calcium (the best soils of the world, especially chernozems of Russia are calcium rich) and then the NPK as well as the other macro and micro nutrient status

However, the overall health of a soil can be assessed only if the biological aspects are assessed. Biological activity really determines sustainable aspects of fertility. Healthy means sustains for a long time. Soil is an ecosystem.

Soil sustains fertility only if the ecosystem characteristics of life such as biodiversity and the resultant biogeochemical cycles are well balanced in it.

Sensitive biological organisms remain the best indicators (eco-indicators) of biological health. 

Dr Kalra,

In São Paulo, Brazil, we developed the Quality Index of Land Use - IQUS which is a tool to assess how it is being cultivated this soil. The project abstract is:

The IQUS Project has been developed to evaluate the use of agricultural land

in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Using visual parameters, through a methodology built by the State Secretariat of Agriculture and Supply, it aims to obtain qualitative and quantitative measures of agricultural land sue. Main agricultural activities were divided into six major crop groups, cover an area of 16.83 million hectares and account for 93% of the state’s agricultural area. The evaluation will be conducted annually in randomly selected properties, using the IQUS LIST questionnaire, a tool used to compose the index per crop throughout São Paulo. The determination of the indices for land use will serve as a tool for implementing emergency programs and specific care to farmers facing difficulty in maintaining financially viable and environmentally sustainable productivity gains.

Link http://www.iea.sp.gov.br/ftpiea/TD/td-33-2012.pdf

http://www.iea.sp.gov.br/ftpiea/TD/td-33-2012.pdf

Dr Karla

Here are several SQ data sheets for various aspects from NRCS. Also there is a simply soil structure evaluator for I-phones call 'simple soil structure assessment' Hope these help.

Bob

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/health/assessment/?cid=stelprdb1237387

Dear Dr Bob

thanks for providing nice info which of course can effectively help in designing soil quality/health index

regards

naveen kalra