Evaluating the Role of Different Management Systems on Soil Quality Index Using Crop Yield (Case Study: Neyshabour Plain, Iran)

Introduction The type of management operations and land use systems are the key parameters affecting the soil quality and sustainable land use. The exploitation systems by efficient use of soil and water recourse can decrease productions costs and increase the yield as well as conserve the natural resources. However, farmers and stakeholders need to be aware that through their management practices, they affect soil quality and, with the short-term goal of production and greater profitability, lead to soil degradation. They can both use the land economically and improve and maintain soil quality by balancing production inputs and refining their management approaches. There are different management systems of productivity in agricultural lands in Neyshabour plain in northeastern Iran. In addition to the water and soil limitations in the study area, the prevalence of the smallholder system and the unwillingness of farmers to integrate smallholder, has further increased the destruction of soils in the study area. The objective of this study was to assess the changes in soil quality index in surface soil and profile (0-100 cm) and calculate the correlation between soil quality index and alfalfa and rapeseed yield in rangeland and agricultural areas managed by smallholders, total owners, and Binalood Company in the study area.Materials and Methods A total of 21 soil profiles were described in the total owner, smallholder and Binalood company management system and sampled from the alfalfa and rapeseed lands. Questionnaires were prepared with the help of farmers and experts in the study area based on Analytic Hierarchical analysis (AHP) method. The physical and chemical characteristics of the soil samples were determined. The important soil characteristics affecting plant growth were determined by interviewing farmers and experts study area. Soil quality index in the minimum data set (MDS) was calculated by two methods of principal component analysis (PCA) and expert opinion (EO), by additive and weighted methods in surface soil and profile. To achieve a single value for each soil properties in the soil profile, two methods of weighted mean and weighted factor were used. To evaluate the accuracy of the assessment, the correlation between soil quality index and alfalfa and rapeseed yield was investigated of the various management system.Result and DiscussionThe results showed that the highest additive and weighted soil quality index at both surface and soil profile