Soil quality assessment of an agroforestry system following long‐term management in the Ozark Highlands

Abstract The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) is a quantitative soil quality (SQ) evaluation tool that widely applied to assess response specific agricultural management practices over time. Considering the reported SQ benefits of agroforestry (AF) systems and potential usefulness SMAF, objective this study was evaluate effects tree species (pecan [ Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] northern red oak Quercus rubra L.]), fertility source (poultry litter [PL] inorganic N fertilizer [control]), depth (0–15 15–30 cm) on SMAF‐derived indices after 17 yr at an AF site in northwest Arkansas. Averaged across depth, organic C scores under with PL application had lower score (0.48) than fertilized (0.60) pecan receiving long‐term applications (0.60), which did not differ from (0.51). index (SQI) for 1.1 times greater soils fertilizer. assessments use are novel, as SMAF has been used identify health these systems, although crop codes need be developed SMAF. Results demonstrate planted various respond dissimilarly sources may improve overall SQ.