Field Guide. cropping and pastoral grazing on flat to rolling country.

SCORE CARDVisual indicators for assessing soil quality under <strong>cropping</strong>SOIL INDICATORSL<strong>and</strong> use:Site location/Paddock name:Date:Soil type:Textural qualifier: S<strong>and</strong>y Loamy ClayeyMoisture condition: Dry Slightly moist Moist WetSeasonal weatherconditions:Dry Wet Cold Warm AverageVisual Indicator Visual Score (VS) Weighting VS Rankingof Soil Quality0 = Poor condition1 = Moderate condition2 = Good conditionSoil structure & consistence(Fig. 1, p.17) × 3Soil porosity(Fig. 2, p.19) × 3Soil colour(Fig. 3, p.21) × 2Number <strong>and</strong> colour of soilmottles (Fig. 4, p.23) × 2Earthworm counts(Fig. 5, p. 25) × 2Tillage pan(Fig. 6, p. 27) × 2Degree of clod development(Fig. 7, p. 29) × 1Degree of soil erosion(wind/water) (Fig. 8, p. 31) × 2RANKING SCORE (Sum of VS rankings)Soil Quality AssessmentRanking ScorePoor < 10Moderate 10 – 25Good > 25If your soil quality assessment is moderate or poor, guidelines for sustainable managementare given in Volume 2, Part One.PTO