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Date Permissions Signed

11-19-2015

Date of Award

Fall 2015

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Environmental Studies

First Advisor

Berardi, Gigi M.

Second Advisor

Bach, Andrew J.

Third Advisor

Rossiter, David A.

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the soil quality of selected farms in Skagit County, Washington, to determine whether conventional farming practices have resulted in lower soil quality than organic practices. Comparative organic and conventional farms were measured for percent soil organic matter content, annelids, soil moisture, soil compaction levels, infiltration, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, salinity, and soil pH. The hypothesis was that within conventionally managed fields, one would find degraded soil quality as evidenced by less soil organic matter; fewer annelids; lower soil pH and salinity; lower soil moisture; lower levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; increased compaction; and, lower water infiltration rates. Such factors would reduce the farm’s ability to respond to drought conditions, allow topsoil erosion, and result in an increased loss of soil. The results showed that, in terms of soil quality, the lower soil organic matter and annelids content in conventional farms was statistically significant. Indeed, the results show that SOM and annelids are soil properties which change relatively quickly, regardless of soil type, when organic practices are introduced. Thus, these two variables may provide the strongest evidence for soil improvement when changing to organic practices. It is possible that testing for these two variables alone, may be adequate for determining and categorizing soil quality in Skagit County, and elsewhere. Regarding organic practices and lower soil quality values for other variables tested, it is possible that conversion to organic is too recent for statistically significant differences between management practices to be apparent.

Type

Text

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25710/9tn6-x457

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

932344410

Subject – LCSH

Organic farming--Washington (State)--Skagit County; Agriculture--Washington (State)--Skagit County; Soils--Quality--Washington (State)--Skagit County; Soil management--Washington (State)--Skagit County

Geographic Coverage

Skagit County (Wash.)

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

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