Peter Motavalli Dept. of Soil, Environmental and Atmos. Sci. University of Missouri University of Missouri ADAPTING TO CHANGE: CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PERCEPTIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF SOIL QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT OF SOIL QUALITY AND SOIL ORGANIC MATTER First Research Seminar SANREM CRSP: Adaptación al Cambio en los Andes. La Paz, April 24-28th, 2006

Which soil would you pick to grow plants in your garden? SOIL QUALITY A. B.

Definition: “The capacity of a soil to function within ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health” (Doran and Parkin, 1994)

SOIL QUALITY The interactions of soil chemical, physical and biological properties that affect how a soil performs ecosystem functions such as: Retain and release nutrients and other chemical constituentsRetain and release nutrients and other chemical constituents Partition rainfall at the soil surface into runoff and infiltrationPartition rainfall at the soil surface into runoff and infiltration Hold and release soil water to plants, streams and groundwaterHold and release soil water to plants, streams and groundwater Resist wind and water erosionResist wind and water erosion Buffer against the concentration of potentially toxic materialsBuffer against the concentration of potentially toxic materials

SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS: SCIENTISTS Physical: Texture Texture Depth of soil, topsoil, and rooting Depth of soil, topsoil, and rooting Bulk density and infiltration capacity Bulk density and infiltration capacityChemical: Organic matter Organic matter pH pH Electrical conductivity Electrical conductivity Fertility (extractable N, P, K) Fertility (extractable N, P, K)Biological: Microbial biomass C & N Microbial biomass C & N Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) Potentially mineralizable N (PMN) Soil respiration Soil respiration

SOIL QUALITY INDICATORS: FARMERS Physical: Soil color Soil color Water infiltration and retention Water infiltration and retention Ease of digging and tillage Ease of digging and tillage Surface appearance Surface appearance Physical feel in hands Physical feel in handsBiological: Earthworm and other biological activity Earthworm and other biological activity Crop growth Crop growth

SOIL ORGANIC MATTER AND SUSTAINABILITY Provides soil nutrients and enhances soil nutrient availability over several growing seasons.Provides soil nutrients and enhances soil nutrient availability over several growing seasons. Improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties for plant growth.Improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties for plant growth. Buffers changes in soil properties due to disturbance or variation in other environmental factors (e.g. climate).Buffers changes in soil properties due to disturbance or variation in other environmental factors (e.g. climate). Reduces environmental contamination and soil loss.Reduces environmental contamination and soil loss. Possibly reduces need for external inputs and enhances internal recycling when crop residues and/or organic soil amendments are applied.Possibly reduces need for external inputs and enhances internal recycling when crop residues and/or organic soil amendments are applied.

FUNCTIONS OF SOIL ORGANIC MATTER

OVERVIEW OF RESEARCH Climate Variability Migration Market factors Changes in agricultural practices (e.g. use of organic soil amendments) Changes in soil organic matter Community perceptions and assessments: and assessments: Soil quality Organic amendments Soil organic matter Changes in sustainable agricultural production and community status Scientific assessments: assessments: Soil quality Organic amendments Soil organic matter

OBJECTIVES To determine the indicators that community members use for evaluating soil quality, classifying soils and quality of organic amendments.To determine the indicators that community members use for evaluating soil quality, classifying soils and quality of organic amendments. To identify changes in management practices that have occurred (e.g. type and frequency of tillage, application timing, type and amount of soil amendments) and perceptions of the relative value of organic versus inorganic soil amendments.To identify changes in management practices that have occurred (e.g. type and frequency of tillage, application timing, type and amount of soil amendments) and perceptions of the relative value of organic versus inorganic soil amendments. To compare changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and other soil properties under new versus traditional cropping systems.To compare changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and other soil properties under new versus traditional cropping systems.

OBJECTIVES (CONTINUED) To examine the effects of different improved management practices suggested by the community on soil organic matter accumulation and crop growth in community field experiments.To examine the effects of different improved management practices suggested by the community on soil organic matter accumulation and crop growth in community field experiments. To train Bolivian and Peruvian professionals to conduct soils research activities.To train Bolivian and Peruvian professionals to conduct soils research activities.

SPECIFIC STUDIES Study on the indicators that community members use for evaluating soil quality, classifying soils, and quality of organic amendments. Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities Will be stratified by community, gender (?), principal cropping systems, importance of livestock Will be stratified by community, gender (?), principal cropping systems, importance of livestock Samples of high and low quality soils and organic amendments indicated by the community will be sampled and analyzed in the laboratory. Samples of high and low quality soils and organic amendments indicated by the community will be sampled and analyzed in the laboratory.

SPECIFIC STUDIES Study on changes in management practices that have occurred and perceptions of the relative importance of organic versus inorganic soil amendments. Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities Will be stratified by community, climate, gender (?), principal cropping systems, importance of livestock Will be stratified by community, climate, gender (?), principal cropping systems, importance of livestock

SPECIFIC STUDIES Study analyzing the changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and other soil properties under new versus traditional cropping systems. Will utilize farm fields identified during participatory and baseline surveys of communities that are representative of new and traditional cropping practices Will utilize farm fields identified during participatory and baseline surveys of communities that are representative of new and traditional cropping practices Will be stratified by community, principal cropping systems, climate, importance of livestock Will be stratified by community, principal cropping systems, climate, importance of livestock Will sample soils in those fields and do extensive laboratory characterization of the samples for soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and other soil properties (Lab work in Bolivia or U.S.?) Will sample soils in those fields and do extensive laboratory characterization of the samples for soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions and other soil properties (Lab work in Bolivia or U.S.?)

SPECIFIC STUDIES Study on the effects of different improved management practices on soil organic matter accumulation and crop growth in community field experiments. Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities to obtain suggested management practices to test. Will utilize participatory and baseline surveys of communities to obtain suggested management practices to test. Will establish a field experiment in farmer fields at each site and take periodic measurements of soil and plant characteristics. Will establish a field experiment in farmer fields at each site and take periodic measurements of soil and plant characteristics. Will have farmer participation in evaluating the success of the different management practices. Will have farmer participation in evaluating the success of the different management practices.

PROPOSED TRAINING 1 PhD student (University of Missouri)1 PhD student (University of Missouri) 4 or more M.S. Students (Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Universidad Nacional Agraria – La Molina4 or more M.S. Students (Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, Universidad Nacional Agraria – La Molina Undergraduate students and research techniciansUndergraduate students and research technicians

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?