EXAMINING SOIL HEALTH INDICATORS AT THE PULLEN FARM IN MURRAY, KENTUCKY

Healthy and productive soils are essential components of sustainable agriculture, this is especially true in an urban agriculture setting. This research aimed to analyze topsoil health of twelve land use systems at Murray State University’s Pullen Farm in western Kentucky. The specified farm encompasses 40 acres and is intensively managed to suit a variety of agronomic, research, and public garden applications. Areas included a no-till garden, community garden, research tomato plots, sod, rain garden, pollinator garden, wooded area, intermittent waterway, hemp field, corn field, soybean field, and corn maze. Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil health were measured at a depth of 0 to 7.5 cm in September 2021. Measurements included soil color, bulk density, compaction, soil pH, moisture, soil organic matter, and earthworm population. Soil properties varied widely across testing sites, thus underscoring the impact management has on soil health and overall sustainability. The findings provide a resource for educating policymakers, practitioners, and the general public about the role of soil health in urban agriculture and how management practices can be used to maintain and restore fertility, productivity, and ecosystem functionality of urban land thus improving the overall quality of life of a growing urban population. Keywords: topsoil, soil health, sustainable agriculture, organic matter, urban agriculture