Soil Health Parameters and Water Quality

As measuring soil health becomes more of a common practice, there are a variety of factors to consider based on location, soil type, and cropping system. So, which tests makes sense for you?

To help address this question, Francisco Arriaga and Donna Brandt of the Soil Health Nexus team presented on Soil Health Parameters and Water Quality for the North Central Region Water Network’s The Current Webinar Series. They discussed the variety of soil health parameters, which factors to consider for each indicator, and which soil health tests are connected to water quality.

If you missed The Current Webinar, you can view the recording on the North Central Region Water Network’s YouTube page.

Presentation slides are available for both Donna Brandt and Francisco Arriaga’s presentations.

About the Speakers

Dr. Francisco J. Arriaga is an Assistant Professor and Extension State Specialist with the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Extension.  Prior to joining UW in 2012, Dr. Arriaga worked as a Research Soil Scientist with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service investigating the influence of soil management on carbon sequestration, and their relationship to soil function and crop productivity.  His current research program focuses on sustainable soil and water management practices.  Dr. Arriaga is the recipient of the Rothermel-Bascom Professorship in Soil Science, and is a fellow of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Donna Brandt grew up on a livestock and crop farm in central Missouri. She has bachelor’s degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife and Science Education and a master’s degree in Agronomy/Soil Science. She has been working at the University of Missouri Soil Health Assessment Center as it has grown out of the University’s Soil Characterization Laboratory since 2012.