Assessment of soil physical conditions: Evaluation of a single value index

Abstract

Soil physical quality index S, the slope of the soil water retention curve at the inflection point. provides a scale that can be used to compare different soils or the effects of different management practices on soil physical properties.Study indicated a downward trendin S value with increasing clay content and bulk density but higher values of Swere observed with increasing organic matter content.Different management practices led to optimisation of bulk density,and increase in soil organic carbon, available water capacity which resulted in higher value of S and improved soil physical quality.The index is understood have potential for general assessment of soils or its temporal changes and can help in making decision of agri-management practices.