Assessing soil health and function
Soil health is an assessment of how well soil performs all of its functions now and how those functions are being preserved for future use. The assessment of soil health depends on the desired functions of the soil. In agricultural applications, for example, soil health is determined by assessing properties that affect plant growth, such nutrient status, pH, and bulk density.
For stormwater applications, soil health can be assessed for the following functions.
- Ability to support vegetative growth
- Fully functioning soil ecology
- Supporting hydraulic/hydrologic function
- Ability to minimize erosion
Each of these is discussed below.