Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health – The Cornell Framework (Version 3.2)

The Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health – The Cornell Framework (Version 3.2) is included as a resource for this cohort to provide examples of field and lab indicators. Use this example to think about the types of information and observations you want to use to better understand and observe soil health on your farm.

Soil Health Concepts

  • What is soil?
  • Life in the soil
  • What is Soil Health?

Soil Health Assessment

  • In-field soil health assessment
  • Development of Cornell ’s Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health
  • Assessment of Soil Health overview
  • Scoring functions
  • Soil sampling protocol (sampling, storage, shipping, etc.)
  • Soil Health Indicator Protocols and Scoring (details on individual tests)
  • Soil Health Assessment Report

Soil Health Management

  • Soil Health Management Planning Framework
  • Soil Health Management Options and Opportunities
  • The Soil Health Management Toolbox
  • General management considerations (tillage, rotations, cover crops, organic amendments, climate change considerations)
  • Case Study

Appendix A

  • Sample 2015 Standard Package Cornell Soil Health Assessment Report

Appendix B:

  • Soil Health Management Process Worksheet

Citation:

Moebius-Clune, B.N., D.J. Moebius-Clune, B.K. Gugino, O.J. Idowu, R.R. Schindelbeck, A.J. Ristow, H.M. van Es, J.E. Thies, H.A. Shayler, M.B. McBride, K.S.M Kurtz, D.W. Wolfe, and G.S. Abawi, 2016. Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health – The Cornell Framework, Edition 3.2, Cornell University, Geneva, NY.

Click the Materials tab to access the PDF document. To learn more, visit the Cornell Soil Health Laboratory.