The Cornell Soil Health Testing Lab uses these indicators to provide a comprehensive assessment of soil health:
CHEMICAL MAKEUP
- pH phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and zinc
BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Organic Matter: Carbon-rich material derived from living organisms
- Soil Protein: Nitrogen bound in the soil
- Soil Respiration: Rate at which the microbial community breaks down organic matter
- Active Carbon: Organic matter that can serve as a food source for soil microbes
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- Soil Texture: Makeup of sand, silt, and clay
- Water Capacity: How much plant-available water the soil can hold
- Aggregate Stability: How well soil particles can hold up to disturbances
- Soil Compaction
FOUR SOIL HEALTH PRINCIPLES
- Minimize Disturbance
- Maximize Continuous Living Roots
- Maximize Biodiversity
- Maximize Cover
