Cropping systems with perennial vegetation and livestock integration promote soil health

Abstract Soil health can differ across cropping systems because of variation in edaphic and management factors. We evaluated how biological indicators soil (soil organic matter [SOM], permanganate oxidizable carbon [POXC], mineralizable [MinC], autoclaved‐citrate‐extractable [ACE] protein, potentially nitrogen [PMN]) compared four common Wisconsin systems: grazed cool‐season pastures, forage‐based rotations that included perennial legumes or grasses, annual receiving manure, synthetic fertilizers. Biological were up to 195% greater pastures than other systems. MinC, POXC PMN 10%–90% systems, but only MinC with manure those without by 35% 7%, respectively. Perennial vegetation livestock integration offer the greatest potential increase agricultural lands.