Soil Physical Quality
Tony Dexter
Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation,
Pulawy, Poland

Examples of “good” and “bad” soil physical properties are introduced. A new measure of soil physical quality, S, is defined. The effects of soil texture, bulk density and organic matter content on S are illustrated both with measurements and with predictions from pedo-transfer functions. It is shown that soil friability, break-up by tillage, hard-setting behavior, and root growth can be predicted from S. A critical value of S can be used to define maximum values of bulk density and minimum values of organic matter content for given soils to have “good” soil physical quality. It is suggested that S should be used as an absolute measure of soil physical quality which can be used for assessment and mapping of the soil physical quality of geographic regions. Changes of S with time or with management practices could be used to quantify soil physical degradation or amelioration.

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