Transferability of soil management assessment framework indices to detect best soil management strategies in tropical agroecosystems

Soil management assessment framework (SMAF) algorithms have not been validated for tropical soils, which can prevent proper SMAF-based soil health monitoring. This study tested SMAF's ability to detect soil health as affected by soil management practices in the Mid-South United States and Brazil for improving SMAF performance in tropical regions. Eleven SMAF studies published in Brazil (n = 166) and 56 from the Mid-South United States (n = 500) were compiled. Management groups were perennial (PER), no-till (NT), reduced tillage (RT), and conventional tillage (CT) systems. In the United States, SMAF soil quality index decreased as follows: PER ≥ RT ≥ NT = CT, while for Brazil, PER > NT = RT = CT. Macroaggregate and microbial biomass carbon scores under CT were overestimated, resulting in nonsignificant differences between conservation and conventional soil management. Revision of organic matter and textural parameters is needed to improve SMAF utilization in tropical agroecosystems.