Carbone and Visual Structure Indicators in Soil Health Assessment After No-Till Adoption Under Agro-Pedological Context in Algeria

Soil health indicators are a set of measurable and interpretable chemical, physical and biological parameters related to soil functional processes that can be used to assess the state of soil health under different agroecosystems. Multiple indicators are examined in the case of soil health assessment after adoption no-till system such as, total carbon and its fractions, nitrogen, bulk density, aggregate stability and infiltration of water. In this chapter, we use organic carbon (particulate, associated and microbial) and visual structure indicators to assess soil health after a short and long duration of adoption no-till by depth under agro-pedo-climate context in Algeria. Three plots submitted in NT to different transition durations (3, 6 and 9 years) and a control plot submitted in CT were studied. Soil samples were taken at two depths (H1: 0-10 and H2: 10-20 cm). Analytical results showed that indicators in the surface horizon were significantly (p<0.05) improved by increasing the NT transition duration, especially during the longest transition durations. The particulate organic carbon is the most sensitive soil indicator of the gradual no-till transition. The multiple correlation study showed that the evolution of the selected soil indicators is similar between the transition durations (3, 6 and 9 years) in H1. Or, in H2, the evolution of these indicators is similar only between the 6 and 9 year transition durations.