Short-term effects of conservation agriculture strategies on the soil quality of a Haplic Plinthosol in Eastern Cape, South Africa

The improvement of soil quality in agro-ecosystems is one the major objectives conservation agriculture (CA) strategies. objective this study was to evaluate, quantify and compare effects two tillage practices, four crop rotation sequences, residue management systems their interactions on a Haplic Plinthosol South Africa using Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). evaluation done CA field trial established 2012 Eastern Cape Province Africa. laid out split-split-plot design with tillage: conventional (CT) no-till (NT) as main plot treatments. Sub-treatments were rotations: maize-fallow-maize (MFM); maize-fallow-soybean (MFS); maize-wheat-maize (MWM); maize-wheat-soybean (MWS). Residue treatments: removal (R - ) retention + sub-sub plots. Soils from sampled at 0 – 5 10 cm depths after five cropping seasons (2012–2015). Thirteen indicators determined assess quality. SMAF index (SMAF-SQI) used an indicator overall results demonstrated dominance practices significantly affecting biological, chemical physical properties short term than sequences systems. biological viz. SOC, MBC BG activity more sensitive strategies, which confirmed effectiveness tools for assessments short-term. also revealed short-term significant SMAF-SQI while had no effects. Overall assessment technique provided sound basis distinguishing impacts strategies function Cape, • algorithms changes induced by impact dominant term. CT registered higher SQI NT