Abstract
The dynamic soil properties for soil health (DSP4SH) is a Science of Soil Health Initiative that was designed to collect, process, and publicize scientifically rigorous datasets that inform sound indicators and interpretations. The Soil and Plant Science Division of the United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) and university cooperators collected a suite of standardized soil health metrics across eight states (Oregon, Washington, Kansas, Minnesota, Illinois, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Texas) within five soil survey regions (Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southeast, and South Central). The DSP4SH database provides a substantial dataset of soil health metrics assessed. The dataset is composed of dynamic soil properties (DSP) data collected from each management system or ecological state represented by one to three independent plot replicates. Each plot has a minimum of three pedons. Nine groups from the DSP4SH monitoring network provided datasets used in developing the database. The submitted data includes 37 laboratory measured parameters, 60 variables of layer/horizon descriptions, 41 variables for laboratory analysis conducted at the Kellogg Soil Survey laboratory, and 12 variables for the management systems. An additional 31 variables were developed for site or plot description. Additional variables were developed to normalize the dataset. In preparation for DSP assessment, all tables (except for dataset from KSSL lab) were categorized by management system or ecological state. The categories were business as usual (BAU), the reference condition (Ref) and the soil health management (SHM). The overarching goal of DSP4SH phase 1 and 2 dataset publication is to promote increased accessibility, further analysis of the data, and overall understanding of the benefits of surveying dynamic soil properties for soil health.