The farmers frequently addressed properties of the topsoil rather than subsoil features to assess whether the soil was recovering from previous cropping. This is probably because topsoil is influenced more by tillage and plant growth than subsoil and also because they rarely see the subsoil. Farmers also pointed to visual features while walking in the field (e.g., spontaneous vegetation, soil colour). Many indicators related to rice crop performance (e.g., yield, rice plant and root development) were mentioned as soil quality indicators. Most farmers also touched and felt the soil for assessment of its quality (rubbing soil
between fingers to feel its quality), as stated by a farmer: “Soilis like cloth: we really see what is good when we touch it.” (Helio Duarte).