Protocol for indicator scoring in the soil management assessment framework (SMAF)
Abstract
Abstract Assessment tools are needed to evaluate agronomic management effects on critical soil functions such as carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling and water partitioning. These tools need to be flexible in terms of selection of soil functions to be assessed and indicators to be measured to ensure that assessments are appropriate for the management goals. The soil management assessment framework (SMAF) is being developed to meet this need. The SMAF uses soil physical, chemical and biological indicator data to assess management effects on soil function using a three-step process for (1) indicator selection, (2) indicator interpretation and (3) integration into an index. While SMAF is functional in its present format, it is intended to be malleable so that user needs can be met. Development of additional indicator interpretation scoring curves is one way that this framework can be expanded. Scoring curve development is a multi-step process of identifying an indicator, determining the nature of the relationship of the indicator to a soil function, programming an algorithm and/or logic statements describing that relationship and validating the resulting scoring curve. This paper describes the steps involved in developing an SMAF scoring curve. Scoring curves for interpreting water-filled pore space (WFPS) and Mehlich extractable potassium (K) were developed using the described protocol. This protocol will assist users of the SMAF in understanding how the existing scoring curves were developed and others interested in developing scoring curves for indicators that are not in the current version.
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Regional target ranges for soil quality indicators are typically narrower than national ones.
“with regional target ranges typically being narrower than national ones (Lilburne et al., 2004; Wienhold et al., 2009).”
From Soil quality – A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Wienhold et al., 2009
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Soil quality – A critical review
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- Authors
- Wienhold, B. J., Karlen, D. L., Andrews, S. S., & Stott, D. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (US)
- National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wienhold, B.J.
- Venue
- Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2009-09-18
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 260-266
- ISSN
- 0889-1893 (ISSN-L)
- 1742-1705
- 1742-1713
- OpenAlex
- W2151826260
- Cited by
- 188
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 6.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems (publishedVersion)
- Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Keywords
- Soil Management Assessment Framework, indicator interpretation, soil functions, water-filled pore space, soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water partitioning
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