The Dirt on Dirt Part 3 – Soil Management - PowerPoint Presentation

The Dirt on Dirt Part 3 – Soil Management

Review Parts 1 & 2 focused on the elements of Soil Science In essence – “what you have”

In this section we will cover FertilityDrainageErosion TillageConservation

Fertility We discussed testing, pH and essential nutrients

What do you need to do? Know what you are going to grow and what was grown the past several yearsWhat is the history of previous fertilizer (and manure) applications Obtain your soil test results and recommendations from your state’s Land Grant UniversityConsider pH goals

Bringing in Soil quality Higher levels of organic matter lessen the need for fertilizer inputsBetter soil structure leads to better plant efficiency for capturing available fertility

Don’t forget Many water quality issues are related to excess or improper fertilizer applicationsKnow Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Consider Is the nutrient mobile in the environment?What fertilizer product you will use? When will you put it on?Basic Agronomy

Last session We discussed soil structure at lengthReview Good structure promotes increased root growth which leads to increased plant growth More efficient use of soil fertility Poor structure results in wet, poorly drained soils

Drainage Artificial drainage utilizes perforated plastic pipe to remove excess waterWater will only flow if the soil is saturated

Things to keep in mind Design should be engineeredRemember environmental consequence Draining wetlands is not advisable and potentially illegal

Benefits of drainage Increased productivity (economic and environmental)Improved soil structure (due to increased biological activity) Reduction in the loss of most contaminantsReduced soil erosion

erosion Soil moving off siteWind and Water What do these two things have in common?

At its most basic level Soil particles must be dislodged if they are going to move

Wind erosion Soil particles are knocked loose by other soil particlesCover the soil with either residue or a growing crop to prevent Take steps to reduce wind speed

Water erosion Soil particles knocked loose by raindrops The solution – cover the soil with a growing crop or residue

Water erosion Soil dislodged by moving water and other soil particles Factors involved Slope steepness and lengthWater velocity when running offSome soil types are more “erosive”

Water erosion summarized A growing crop buffers raindrop impact and slows water runoff Residue serves the same purpose when there is not a growing cropShorten slope length with engineering structuresPlant permanent cover in places where water wants to run

In addition Most people learn better when information is repeated We will revisit this later when we discuss conservation

Tillage Why do we till?Residue reflects light and protects from the wind – so high residue levels can lead to cool, wet soil Seeds need heat to germinate, the growing season is shorter the farther north you go

But remember? Tillage destroys soil structureBuries or destroys residue that protects from erosion

The answer The world isn’t perfect, it is pretty hard to have it all

Who said this would be easy? All management decisions need to be site and circumstance specificIt should be possible to strike a balance between conservation and necessary tillage

In general NRCS recommends at least 30% residue cover at the time of planting

Conservation First and foremost – Familiarize yourself with your local resourcesNatural Resources Conservation Service Conservation DistrictsExtensionOthers?

Your conservation toolbox No-Till, Strip-Till, Mulch-Till

Conservation toolbox Grass waterways and buffer strips

Conservation toolbox Contour plantingContour strips

Conservation toolbox Engineered solutions Sediment basins TerracesDrop structuresSide inlet structuresMany more

Conservation toolbox Perennial cover Pasture Wildlife habitat Cover crops?

Conservation toolbox Windbreaks, shelterbelts, living snow fences = trees

In conclusion We have covered the information, now lets move on to… Your Plan!

Your Plan Evaluate what you haveSoil survey and descriptions Soil testUse historyExisting problems

Your Plan Your GoalsHow do you plan to use your land? Crops? Pasture? Native landscape?Bring soil quality into your plans Soil structureOrganic matterFertility Conservation

Your Plan Action ItemsCroppingDrainage and/or engineering Ground preparationFertilityConservation

Your Plan Formulate what you think you should doThen consult resource people to get their opinions

In the End Stay flexible – Things change Keep an open mind – You just might get some good adviceStay goal oriented – Everything doesn’t happen all at onceStop to smell the soil

Wishing You Many Happy Harvests – Whether it is Crops, or Just Sunshine and Fresh Air!

Thank You! This product was developed with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.