The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) launched a national Soil health initiative in 2012; as a part of that effort, a soil health index (SHI) has been developed. The SHI is calculated using results of three soil tests: 24-h carbon mineralization following rewetting of air-dried soil (C-min, by the Solvita proprietary method) and water-extractable organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). These tests are being promoted both as the inputs into the SHI calculation and as predictors of soil N mineralization potential. Soil was collected from 35 California fields in annual crop rotations; 20 fields were under certified organic management and the other 15 under conventional management, to provide a range of soil properties and management effects. Carbon mineralization was determined by the Solvita method, and by a comparison method utilizing head space carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring by infrared gas analyzer (IRGA); additionally, two soil wetting protocols were compared, capillary wetting (the Solvita method) and wetting to 50% water-filled pore space (WFPS). Both water-extractable C (WEOC) and N (WEON) were determined using NRCS-recommended protocols. Net N mineralization (N-min) was also determined after a 28-day aerobic incubation at 25 degrees C. Solvita C-min was highly correlated with the IRGA method using capillary wetting (R-2=0.81). However, capillary soil wetting resulted in high gravimetric water content that significantly suppressed C-min compared to the 50% WFPS method. N-min was correlated with Solvita C-min (r=0.54) and with WEOC and WEON (r=0.62 for each comparison); combining these three measurements into the SHI slightly improved the correlation with N-min. The organically managed soils scored higher than the conventional soils on the SHI, with a minority of organic soils and the majority of conventional soils scoring below the NRCS target threshold. SHI and soil organic matter were correlated, suggesting an inherent bias that would complicate the application of a national SHI standard.

Organic processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production is a significant industry in California, yet little nitrogen (N) fertility research is available to guide N management. A total of 37 certified organic processing tomato fields in the Sacramento Valley of California were monitored during the 2012 and 2013 production seasons, with two objectives: 1) to document current N management practices and 2) to investigate the utility of early-season soil and plant N monitoring techniques in predicting seasonal crop N sufficiency. Between ≈3 and 11 weeks after transplanting (WAT) soil mineral N (SMN), leaf N and petiole NO3-N were determined every other week. In 22 fields, whole plant N concentration at ≈11 WAT was determined as a measure of crop N sufficiency. Growers were surveyed regarding N management practices used and fruit yields achieved. Net N mineralization (Nmin) was measured for 20 fields soils by aerobic laboratory incubation. Carbon mineralization (Cmin) in 24 hours following rewetting of air-dried soil and water extractable organic nitrogen (WEON) and carbon (WEOC) were also determined and evaluated as predictors of Nmin. Nitrogen management was primarily based on the application of manure or manure compost in the fall. Organic fertilizers were applied mainly in spring (pre- and post-transplanting). SMN in the top 60 cm at 3 WAT ranged from 6 to 32 mg·kg−1. About 30% of fields were N deficient by 11 WAT. Sensitivity analysis showed that SMN (whether measured from 0 to 30 or 0 to 60 cm) and leaf N at 5 WAT correctly predicted late-season plant N status in >60% of the fields. Nmin in 28 days ranged from 8 to 31 mg·kg−1, representing an average of 2% of total soil N. Correlation between Nmin and Cmin was weak (r = 0.44, P = 0.051) while stronger correlations were observed between Nmin and WEOC, WEON and total soil N (r = 0.63, 0.61 and 0.51, respectively, all P < 0.03). A multiple linear regression model that used 3 WAT SMN (0–30 cm) and WEON as independent variables improved Nmin prediction (adj. R2 = 0.67). Significant fruit yield increase with sidedress N application of feather meal at 5–6 WAT was observed in 2 of 4 field trials, demonstrating the ability to remedy a soil N limitation identified by early-season N monitoring.