Data from: Soil physical quality index under long-term organic no-tillage management in central Ohio
Data files
Jun 29, 2026 version files 7.03 KB
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README.md
2.05 KB
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SPQ-DATA.csv
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Abstract
This dataset contains soil physical and hydraulic property measurements collected from a 27-year long-term no-tillage experiment conducted in Central Ohio, USA. The study evaluated the effects of different management practices, including compost, manure, cover cropping, and fallow treatments, on soil physical quality across two soil depths. The dataset includes variables related to penetration resistance (PR), bulk density (BD), total porosity, water-stable aggregates (WSA), saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks), soil organic carbon (SOC), and plant available water capacity (PAWC). The data were used to evaluate Soil Physical Quality Index (SPQi) and associated soil structural and hydrological responses under long-term organic management systems.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.r7sqv9st5
File and variables
File: SPQ-DATA.csv
Description: The dataset contains 96 observations collected from four management treatments, two sampling depths, and four replications.
Variables:
- Serial No: Unique observation number.
- ID: Unique sample identifier. Treatment abbreviations used in the sample IDs:
- CC = Cover Crop
- C = Compost
- M = Manure
- F = Fallow
- Depth: Sampling depth.
- D1 = 0–20 cm
- D2 = 20–40 cm
- PR (MPa): Soil penetration resistance.
- Bulk Density (Mg/m³): Soil bulk density.
- POROSITY (%): Total soil porosity.
- WSA (%): Water-stable aggregates.
- Ks (cm/hr): Saturated hydraulic conductivity.
- SOC (%): Soil organic carbon concentration.
- PAWC (cm³/cm³): Plant available water capacity.
Experimental Design
- Location: Central Ohio, USA
- Management system: Long-term no-tillage (27 years)
- Experimental design: Randomized complete block design (RCBD)
- Treatments:
- Compost
- Manure
- Cover Crop
- Fallow
- Replications: Four per treatment
- Sampling depths:
- 0–20 cm
- 20–40 cm
Missing Data
No missing values are present in this dataset.
Code/Software
The dataset is provided in comma-separated values (.csv) format. It can be opened using Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc, R, Python, or other compatible spreadsheet and statistical software. No specialized software, code, or scripts are required to access or use the dataset.
Intended Use
This dataset can be used for analyses related to:
- Soil Physical Quality Assessment
- Soil Health Evaluation
- Soil Structure and Aggregation
- Hydraulic Conductivity and Water Flow
- Soil Carbon Management
- Long-Term No-Tillage Systems
- Sustainable Agricultural Management
Funding
- Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
- Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)