Restoration of degraded lands by adoption of recommended conservation management practices can rehabilitate watersheds and lead to improving soil and water quality. The objective was to evaluate the effects of grass buffers (GBs), biomass crops (BCs), grass waterways (GWWs), agroforestry buffers (ABs), landscape positions, and distance from tree base for AB treatment on soil quality compared with row crop (RC) (corn [
Permanent vegetative management (trees and grasses) enhanced soil quality. Perennial practices improved microbial activity and increased soil organic carbon. Perennial vegetative practices have agricultural and environmental significance. Establishing perennial practices is an effective approach to enhance soil quality.