Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework

Connectivity is one of the five dimensions within the Soil Security Assessment Framework, designed to measure the cognitive and experiential bonds that stakeholders have with soils. However, a quantifiable framework integrating soil connectivity with the broader assessment framework has been lacking...

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Main Authors: Julio C. Pachón Maldonado, Emma C. Leonard, Damien J. Field, Katie McRobert, Richard Heath, Alex B. McBratney
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Soil Security
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667006224000492
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author Julio C. Pachón Maldonado
Emma C. Leonard
Damien J. Field
Katie McRobert
Richard Heath
Alex B. McBratney
author_facet Julio C. Pachón Maldonado
Emma C. Leonard
Damien J. Field
Katie McRobert
Richard Heath
Alex B. McBratney
author_sort Julio C. Pachón Maldonado
collection DOAJ
description Connectivity is one of the five dimensions within the Soil Security Assessment Framework, designed to measure the cognitive and experiential bonds that stakeholders have with soils. However, a quantifiable framework integrating soil connectivity with the broader assessment framework has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by introducing a novel framework that assesses soil connectivity through knowledge, action, and attitude indicators. Using an online self-evaluation tool, the framework was applied to Australian land managers, focusing on the connectivity of two soil functions and six soil threats. The framework includes: utility graphs for each indicator; a method for nuanced interpretation of each soil role and connectivity indicators; spatial components; and automatic feedback to stakeholders. Our results indicate that knowledge indicators are consistently high across the country, while attitude utilities vary most and are often lowest; education had no effect, and younger stakeholders stood out for significantly lower, though still high, utility values. The study also identifies specific soil roles which require strengthening in different geographic regions. Despite the generally high levels of connectivity, the threat to soils by salinisation emerges as the soil role with the lowest connectivity utility. However, no significant correlation was found between the threat to soils by salinisation utility values and stakeholders' age or educational level, suggesting that other factors, possibly spatial or environmental, are more important. This study displays the importance of assessing knowledge, action, and attitude indicators when assessing connectivity and obtaining spatial information for spatial analysis.
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spelling doaj-art-748836c6508e4df4bbdc23090a1616622025-08-20T02:50:27ZengElsevierSoil Security2667-00622024-12-011710017510.1016/j.soisec.2024.100175Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment frameworkJulio C. Pachón Maldonado0Emma C. Leonard1Damien J. Field2Katie McRobert3Richard Heath4Alex B. McBratney5School of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney; Corresponding author.AgriKnowHowSchool of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyAustralian Farm InstituteAustralian Farm InstituteSchool of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of SydneyConnectivity is one of the five dimensions within the Soil Security Assessment Framework, designed to measure the cognitive and experiential bonds that stakeholders have with soils. However, a quantifiable framework integrating soil connectivity with the broader assessment framework has been lacking. This study addresses this gap by introducing a novel framework that assesses soil connectivity through knowledge, action, and attitude indicators. Using an online self-evaluation tool, the framework was applied to Australian land managers, focusing on the connectivity of two soil functions and six soil threats. The framework includes: utility graphs for each indicator; a method for nuanced interpretation of each soil role and connectivity indicators; spatial components; and automatic feedback to stakeholders. Our results indicate that knowledge indicators are consistently high across the country, while attitude utilities vary most and are often lowest; education had no effect, and younger stakeholders stood out for significantly lower, though still high, utility values. The study also identifies specific soil roles which require strengthening in different geographic regions. Despite the generally high levels of connectivity, the threat to soils by salinisation emerges as the soil role with the lowest connectivity utility. However, no significant correlation was found between the threat to soils by salinisation utility values and stakeholders' age or educational level, suggesting that other factors, possibly spatial or environmental, are more important. This study displays the importance of assessing knowledge, action, and attitude indicators when assessing connectivity and obtaining spatial information for spatial analysis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667006224000492Soil security assessmentConnectivity dimensionSelf-evaluation tool
spellingShingle Julio C. Pachón Maldonado
Emma C. Leonard
Damien J. Field
Katie McRobert
Richard Heath
Alex B. McBratney
Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
Soil Security
Soil security assessment
Connectivity dimension
Self-evaluation tool
title Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
title_full Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
title_fullStr Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
title_short Quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
title_sort quantifying the connectivity dimension of the soil security assessment framework
topic Soil security assessment
Connectivity dimension
Self-evaluation tool
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667006224000492
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