Soil Health Indicators
Dynamic Soil Properties (DSPs) are soil characteristics that change over short timescales and are sensitive to factors like vegetation, climate, and land use. In 2024, the Lamont team adopted the NRCS DSP4SH framework to evaluate soil health through measurable indicators. These included permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), bulk density, soil respiration, water-stable aggregates (WSA), and enzyme activity—each offering a window into the functioning and resilience of the soil system.
These indicators were collected using field kits and lab-based methods aligned with national protocols. POXC measures the readily available pool of organic carbon that supports microbial life, while WSA reflects the soil’s structure and resistance to erosion. Bulk density relates to compaction and root penetration, and soil respiration indicates microbial activity and nutrient cycling. All together, these variables offer a multi-dimensional view of how "healthy" the soil is—and how likely it is to store carbon and support forest regeneration.
Unlike static properties like soil texture, DSPs are responsive to management and climate change. Monitoring them helps predict how ecosystems will respond to interventions.
The indicators used at Lamont feed directly into national soil health monitoring, inform digital soil mapping models, and guide forest management strategies based on local conditions.