How Can We Use Dynamic Soil Property Information to Interpret Soil Function?.

Soils have the capacity to perform various ecosystem functions, such as cycling and retaining nutrients, filtering and buffering contaminants, and storing and partitioning water. Appropriate indicators for these and other critical functions, vary depending on the soils’ intended use, e.g., whether that is growing crops, filtering waste, or supporting a building. Information about how well soils perform critical functions provides helpful information for land managers and policy makers at multiple spatial scales. There have been multiple attempts to interpret soil dynamic properties as indicators of soil function. Relationships between/among dynamic soil properties also provide useful information to predict further changes in ecosystem function. To be successful, interpretations must consider dynamic soil properties within the context of the inherent soil forming factors in which they are found.  We will examine the strengths and weaknesses of several methods, such as the scoring curves and carbon stratification ratios. The need for multiple interpretation methods to meet multiple potential users’ needs will also be discussed.