Baseline soil health assessment using the Cornell CASH framework in a semi-arid Luvisol of Northwestern Morocco: constraints and management implications

Cornell Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) approach was used to assess soil health status in EL Koudia, a representative site of rainfed agricultural perimeters of the semiarid Northwest Morocco. The main objective was to assess the soil’s potential to promote crop productivity while enforcing environmental sustainability in the study site. We examined 11 soil health indicators encompassing physical, chemical and biological soil properties, including bulk density (Bd), available water capacity (AWC), wet aggregate stability (WAS), pH, active carbon (ActC), organic matter (OM), soil protein index (SPI), soil respiration (Resp), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients (Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn). Results showed that El Koudia’s soil revealed a non-compacted structure (Bd= 1.41g/cm 3 ) and a significant variability of AWC (0.17g/g) and WAS (12.3, 9.6, and 9 for 0-5cm, 10-15cm, and 5-10cm layers respectively). Chemical indicators showed few differences related to depth, except for pH, P, and Zn in topsoil. Biological indicators varied significantly along soil depth, indicating richer and more active microbial communities in the upper layers. Overall, according to Cornell CASH scoring, EL Koudia soils reveal significant limitations in WAS, SPI and pH, likely stemming from prolonged intensive tillage and continuous monocropping system, and thus raising the necessity of more efficient soil management strategies. With an overall score of 48, EL Koudia soils fall into the medium range indicating room for improvement. Through this study, the CASH of EL Koudia site provides opportunities to deepen our understanding of soil quality, pinpoint targeted management interventions, and monitor soil health evolution.