NB_450_23_4 - NB 450-23-4 TCH – Forestland In-field Soil Health Assessment Tool
NB 450-23-4 TCH – Forestland In-field Soil Health Assessment Tool
National
Bulletin:
450-23-4
Date:
January 9, 2023
Subject:
TCH – Forestland In-field Soil Health Assessment Tool
Action Requested By: January 20, 2023
Purpose. This national bulletin requests states to test and evaluate a Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment tool.
Expiration Date. September 30, 2023
Background. The Soil Health Division, in collaboration with internal and external partners, has developed a Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment tool in response to the need for soil health assessments on forestland. The assessment is a qualitative tool to help conservation planners determine and document soil health resource concerns on forestland. Qualitative assessments provide a relatively quick method to evaluate biological and physical components of an ecosystem. The Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment tool uses indicators to evaluate biological and physical components within a forestland ecosystem. Information on reference conditions (from ecological site descriptions or other sources) will be useful in using the tool.
The tool can also complement forest management plans and communicate ecological concepts to a variety of audiences.
Explanation. The Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment tool has been developed by a multi-disciplinary team of subject matter experts. In order to further refine the tool, the Soil Health Division is requesting states to perform in-field testing and evaluation of the tool within variety a of forest types and production systems and give feedback on its performance and utility.
Feedback should focus on how well the tool identifies soil health resource concerns within a variety of forest production systems in the state. The testing period will occur from March 1 through May 31, 2023.
States interested in testing and providing feedback on the Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment tool should email Michael Margo, Acting National Soil Health Specialist, at michael.margo@usda.gov by January 20, 2023. Please include “Forestland In-Field Soil Health Assessment – test” in the subject and list a technical point of contact within your state. The assessment tool as well as guidance to evaluate the tool will be provided to the states before the start of the testing period.
Contact. For more information, please contact Michael Margo, Acting National Soil Health Specialist, at (469) 712-0817 or email michael.margo@usda.gov.
/s/
NOLLER HERBERT
Deputy Chief for Science and Technology