Integrating Soil Quality Indicators into Agricultural Property Valuation: A Human-Centred Decision-Support Perspective

Abstract

Agricultural property valuation is a complex expert task shaped by measurable land characteristics as well as professional judgement. In the Bloemfontein region of South Africa, inconsistent valuation outcomes may arise when structured environmental indicators are not routinely integrated into practice. This paper examines the potential of the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) as a human-centred decision-support mechanism in agricultural valuation. An inductive mixed-methods design combined qualitative and quantitative evidence. Survey questionnaires completed by seven experienced agricultural property valuers were used to rank valuation factors and test awareness of SMAF, while Ordinary Least Squares regression was applied to 97 verified agricultural property sales to identify significant price determinants. The results show that production potential, natural capital, soil quality, water availability, location and rainfall are highly ranked in valuation practice. Although only two valuers were familiar with SMAF and only one had used it, all respondents indicated that SMAF could improve the accuracy and consistency of valuations. The paper argues that SMAF should be treated not merely as a soil metric, but as a structured support tool that can strengthen expert judgement, reduce subjectivity and improve transparency in valuation reports.

Keywords: Human-Centred Decision-Making, Expert Judgement, Agricultural Valuation, Decision Support, SMAF.

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1008189