Gattoni, K., M. Mann, and C. D. Sprunger. 2026. Which indicators are most effective at detecting rapid shifts in soil health? Agricultural & Environmental Letters 11:e70056.

Farmers are showing a growing interest in soil health. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how and when indicators respond to changes in land management. Measurements of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen can take up to a decade to shift. However, it is unknown how other biotic markers of soil health (i.e., nematode communities) react. Here we use the long-term agroecosystem research trial at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station to determine which biotic indicators respond first to the implementation of sustainable agricultural management. High-diversity perennial forage and native prairie had higher nematode abundances compared to monoculture crops with perennial forage also being compositionally distinct. Additionally, nematode abundance was higher in the aspirational corn (Zea mays) treatment than conventionally managed corn (p < 0.05). Mineralizable carbon (minC) was marginally greater in high plant diversity treatments (p < 0.1). Overall, nematode abundance, in combination with incremental changes in labile C, are indicators of rapid shifts in soil health.

DOI: 10.1002/ael2.70056

Associated Treatment Areas:

• ACSE Plots LTAR Aspirational Cropping Systems Experiment Plots

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