A Nematode Community-Based Integrated Productivity Efficiency (IPE) Model That Identifies Sustainable Soil Health Outcomes: A Case of Compost Application in Carrot Production

Percent soil organic matter (SOM), pH and crop yield are among the biophysicochemical process-driven health indicators (SHIs). However, identifying sustainable conditions using these SHIs is limited due to lack of Integrated Productivity Efficiency (IPE) models. We define IPE as a concept that identifies best-to-worst-case outcomes by assessing effect agronomic practices on weighted abundance functional guilds (WAFG) beneficial organisms simultaneously. Expressing WAFG all nematodes (x-axis) (y-axis) percent untreated control regression x y reveals four quadrants describing worst-to-best-case for sustainability. tested effects composted cow manure (AC) plant litter (PC) applied at 135 (1×), 203 (1.5×), 270 (2×) kg N/ha WAFG, SOM, pH, in sandy clay loam field processing carrot cultivar over three growing seasons. Untreated urea 1× served experimental controls. Data varied time were difficult make sense separated into sustainable, unsustainable, or requiring specific modification be categories model. Within category, AC treatments 2× rate PC had best integrated efficiency across SHIs. The model provides platform where other could integrated.