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Table 8 Indicators measured in studies

From: What evidence exists for the effectiveness of on-farm conservation land management strategies for preserving ecosystem services in developing countries? A systematic map

Rank

Chemical indicators

No

%

Physical indicators

No

%

Biological indicators

No

%

Social indicators

No

%

Economic indicators

No

%

1

Soil organic carbon (SOC)

333

17.4

Bulk density

154

20.0

Yielda

273

39.5

Pest incidence

23

17.6

Income

54

35.3

2

Nitrogen (N)

310

16.2

Soil texture/particle size

136

17.7

Diversity/richness

109

15.8

Fuel wood use

18

13.7

Farm inputs

34

22.2

3

Phosphorus (P)

230

12.0

Water holding capacity/soil moisture retention

98

12.7

Community abundance

80

11.6

Medicinal value

14

10.7

Labour days

23

15.0

4

Potassium (K)

197

10.3

Soil type

97

12.6

Microbial Biomass Content (MBC)

37

5.4

Water quality

12

9.2

Farm size

22

14.4

5

pH

189

9.9

Temperature

51

6.6

Below ground biomass

33

4.8

Perception of soil quality (SOC)

9

6.9

Livestock ownership

7

4.6

6

Total carbon (TC)

135

7.0

Soil porosity

33

4.3

Stem density/diameter

31

4.5

HH size/type

8

6.1

Cropping intensity

5

3.3

7

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

82

4.3

Runoff and soil loss (for leaching)

29

3.8

Litter

24

3.5

Edible wild species

7

5.3

Alt. livelihoods

3

2.0

8

Magnesium (Mg)

41

2.1

Water use efficiency (WUE)

29

3.8

Fruit set

23

3.3

Ethnic group

6

4.6

Shade

2

1.3

9

Nitrous Oxide (N20)

36

1.9

Water infiltration rate

21

2.7

Survival rate of trees

12

1.7

Village

6

4.6

Market access

1

0.7

10

Nitrate (NO3)

34

1.8

Altitude

15

2.0

Crop height

11

1.6

Food security

5

3.8

Credit

1

0.7

11

Boron (B)

32

1.7

Turbidity/water stable aggregates

12

1.6

Species mass, sex, age

9

1.3

Recreational value

5

3.8

Stumpage fee

1

0.7

12

Heavy metals (e.g. Cd,Cu,Pb,Cr,Zn,Ni)

30

1.6

Base saturation

12

1.6

Seedling density

8

1.2

Ornamental value

5

3.8

   

13

Chlorine (Cl)

30

1.6

Electric conductivity (for solids)

11

1.4

Basal stand

7

1.0

Farmer’s assoc

3

2.3

   

14

Methane (CH4)

29

1.5

Soil colour

10

1.3

Flower visitation rate

7

1.0

Sacred sites

2

1.5

   

15

Dissolved Organic Carbon

25

1.3

Soil depth

10

1.3

Macro-faunal activity

7

1.0

Climate regulation

2

1.5

   

16

Soil enzymes (e.g. acid phosphatase)

22

1.2

Slope gradient

9

1.2

Species body/tail/wing length

6

0.9

Educational value

2

1.5

   

17

C:N ratio

21

1.1

Rainfall

8

1.0

Fine root production

5

0.7

Land tenure

2

1.5

   

18

Cation exchange capability

21

1.1

Distance to natural areas

7

0.9

Weed growth

3

0.4

Ritual artefacts

1

0.8

   

19

Calcium (Ca)

17

0.9

Light intensity/radiation

6

0.8

Above ground biomass

3

0.4

Fodder

1

0.8

   

20

Electric conductivity (liquids) (EC)

15

0.8

Humidity/water vapour

4

0.5

Rhizodeposition

2

0.3

      

21

Ammonium (NH4-)

12

0.6

Erosion control

4

0.5

Leaf area index

2

0.3

      

22

Salinity/sodium/salt (NaCl)

11

0.6

Evaporation/transpiration

3

0.4

         

23

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)

9

0.5

Groundwater depth

3

0.4

         

24

Ammonia (NH3)

7

0.4

Aspect

2

0.3

         

25

Aluminium (Al)

7

0.4

Surface flow

2

0.3

         

26

Soluble/crude protein or starch, carbohydrates

7

0.4

Patch size

2

0.3

         

27

Hydron (H +)

6

0.3

Respiration

1

0.1

         

28

Polyphenol content, lignin, cellulose

5

0.3

            

29

Sulphur (S)

5

0.3

            

30

Total soluble sugar (CnH2nOn)

5

0.3

            

31

Iron (Fe)

4

0.2

            

32

Exchangeable sodium  % (ESP)

4

0.2

            

33

Sulfate (SO4)

3

0.2

            

34

Amino sugars

2

0.1

            

35

Residual selenium

1

0.1

            

36

Cholorphyll

1

0.1

            

37

Dissolved oxygen (DO)

1

0.1

            

TOTAL

1919

100

 

769

100

 

692

100

 

131

100

 

153

100

  1. The overall totals are more than 746 because all studies assess multiple indicators
  2. TC total carbon including inorganic, Walkley–Black carbon, Labile carbon, particulate organic carbon, total organic carbon, HH household
  3. aYield was typically measured in kg/ha)
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Environmental Evidence

ISSN: 2047-2382