Dr. Jessica Chiartas

I am a Soil Biogeochemist digging into the long-term impacts of soil health management on productivity, profitability, and the provision of ecosystem services; across the diversity of California soils, climates, and cropping systems. Through participatory research and multi-stakeholder engagement, I seek to drive discovery around the context-specific implementation of climate-, water-, and nutrient-smart management systems.

Curriculum Vitae

Research

My research focuses on the long-term impacts of agricultural management on soil health and ecosystem services (i.e. carbon sequestration, water storage, crop nutrition).

Outreach

In an increasingly polarizing world, I seek to build bridges; bringing people together on common ground and facilitating a two-way exchange between science and society.

Education

Soil is the final frontier! Just like NASA inspired a generation of space explorers, I strive to inspire the next generation of soil explorers -- for the benefit of all!

What is Soil Health?

Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. While many soil properties are inherent and can’t change on a human time scale (i.e. texture), others are dynamic and are directly influenced by management (i.e structure, organic matter).

How is it Measured?

There are a variety of lab-based and in-field tests that land managers can use to evaluate the health of their soil (common indicators below). A combination of physical, chemical, and biological indicators should be used, but ultimately, the ideal suite depends on the context — region, climate, soil type — and the outcomes or goals one hopes to achieve.

physical

chemical

aggregate 
stability

infiltration 
rate

soil organic matter

nutrient concentrations

pH

salinity

biological

water holding capacity

bulk density

microbial biomass
and diversity

earthworms/ invertebrates

respiration

Soils are Diverse!

Just like you and I, soils are made from a diversity of different parent materials (i.e. residual bedrock, transported sediment). Over time, the physical environment (i.e. climate), the biological community — and in recent history, the way they are managed — informs their development, leading to a diversity of soils across the landscape. As a result, the best suite of practices and the ecological outcomes vary from soil to soil — even within a single field!

Parent Material
Climate
Organisms
Topography
Time
Anthropogenic/Management
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Road to Soil Health

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Contact us – By Phone: 310-579-2901 or Email: [email protected]