SoilHealthDB-V2: An updated and standardized global database of soil health under conservation management

Abstract. Field-based measurements of soil health under various conservation management practices have been compiled into the global Soil Health Database (SoilHealthDB), supporting comprehensive analyses of the effects of systems such as cover cropping, no-tillage, agroforestry systems, and organic fertilization on soil health. To support more effective soil health assessments and related analyses, it is essential to maintain updated and standardized datasets. In response to this need, the existing database of SoilHealthDB has been updated and standardized as SoilHealthDB-V2. All soil health indicators were harmonized to improve consistency, traceability, and analytical accuracy. The number of observations increased from 5,907 to 8,874, expanding global spatiotemporal coverage and improving representation across diverse climate regions. Several new variables related to cover crop management have been introduced, including cover crop termination date, cash crop planting date, cover crop termination method and residue return method, cover crop irrigation and fertilization practices. These additions enable more detailed assessments of best management practices. Furthermore, the inclusion of experiment duration-related data allows for more robust investigations of temporal trends in soil health outcomes. New indicators related soil carbon pools further enhance the database’s utility for evaluating the effects of conservation practices on carbon cycling. Overall, SoilHealthDB-V2 offers a robust, globally relevant foundation for soil health assessment and provides critical support for developing evidence-based conservation management strategies.