01Aug/18

A saline-sodic headland along state Highway 5 East roadside ditch in Cavalier County, N.D.

Perennial Salt-Tolerant Covers for Saline-Sodic Headlands in NE North Dakota

August 1, 2018Soil Healthagriculture, cover crops, crops, saline soils, sodic soils, soil, soils, waterNaeem Kalwar

Wet weather results in shallow groundwater depths and saturated soils, whereas, dry weather results in lower groundwater depths. Establishing a vegetative cover is the key to utilize excessive soil moisture, intercepting salt-carrying water before it will affect productive areas, reducing evaporation from the soil surface, adding organic material and increasing microbial activity. With time, these headlands might be planted with crops like wheat, canola and corn and soybean again.

02Jul/18

Soil Health Parameters and Water Quality

July 2, 2018Soil Healthagriculture, soil health, soil health webinar, soil test, soil testing, water, water quality, webinarLeslie Johnson

As measuring soil health becomes more of a common practice, there are a variety of factors to consider based on location, soil type, and cropping system. So, which tests makes sense for you? To help address this question, Francisco Arriaga and Donna Brandt of the Soil Health Nexus team presented on Soil Health Parameters and Water Quality for the North Central Region Water Network’s The Current Webinar Series.

04Jun/18

Now Available: 2017 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health Presentations

June 4, 2018Soil Healthagriculture, cover crops, national conference, sare, science, soil healthLeslie Johnson

Videos and presentations from the 2017 National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health held on December 7-8, 2017 in Indianapolis are now available. Hosted by the Soil and Water Conservation Society with video development supported by SARE, the conference highlighted insights from some of the nation’s most innovative producers, conservation leaders and scientists on using cover crops to improve soil health.

01May/18

Research demonstrates that animal manures can produce both environmental and productivity benefits over the commercial fertilizer it replaces.

Manure’s Impact on Yield, Nitrogen, and Carbon

May 1, 2018Manurecrops, environment, farmers, farming, literature review, manure benefits, manure value, nebraska, nitrogen loss, soil, soil amendments, soil organic matter, state of the sciencerkoelsch

Manure is often viewed by many as an environmental liability. However, if manure is applied at rates equal to or less than the nitrogen (N) requirement of a crop, can manure produce environmental benefits over commercial fertilizer? This was the focus of an Asian research group which summarized the results of 141 published studies from Asia, Europe, and the U.S. comparing manure substitution for fertilizer. This article summarizes the “Take Home Messages” from this research paper.

02Apr/18

What is your definition for soil health?

April 2, 2018Soil Healthagriculture, farmers, farming, soil, soil health, soilsLeslie Johnson

Over the past several years, state and federal agencies and researchers have been trying to come up with a definition for soil health. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service defines soil healthRead More…

04Mar/18

Fall manure injection into cereal rye cover crop.

Effects of liquid manure injection into a winter rye cover crop: on-farm trials

March 4, 2018Manure, Soil Healthagriculture, dairy manure, manure and soil health, manure application, research, science, swine manureLeslie Johnson

Nitrate levels above the drinking water standard of 10 ppm are frequently found in subsurface drainage tile water or groundwater below farm fields of the upper Midwest. Nitrogen comes from applied manure and fertilizer, along withRead More…

01Feb/18

Manure being applied in the corn field, using a drag-hose system.

Can Manure Improve Soil Health?

February 1, 2018Manure, Soil Healthanimal manure management, manure, manure and soil health, manure application, manure benefits, research, science, soil, soil health, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

Is there a correlation between soil health (or soil productivity) and manure? A Missouri team analyzed many soil health related variables and manure land application details, based on data collected under the Missouri Cover Crop Cost-ShareRead More…

24Jan/18

The North Central Region Water Network supports regional soil health capacity building through its Impact 2020 initiative. The Network is made up of a 12-state collaboration between Extension water resource professionals and university, federal, state, NGO and industry partners.

North Central Region Soil Health & Water Quality Initiative

January 24, 2018Manure, Soil Healthadoption, igrow, impact 2020, manure and soil health, ncrwn, north central region, soil health nexus, water qualityLeslie Johnson

Empower Educators to Improve Water Quality by Adoption of Soil Health Practices In December, I traveled to Indianapolis, IN to attend a meeting sponsored by the North Central Region Soil Health Nexus. The meeting was aRead More…

08Jan/18

Soil quality impacts of agricultural and municipal biosolids applications

January 8, 2018Manure, Soil Healthagriculture, literature review, manure, manure and soil health, manure benefits, organic matter, research, science, soil, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

Background Soil health management refers to the preservation and improvement in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties to maximize the productive capacity of soil. Cover crops and reduced tillage are promoted for improving soil health; however,Read More…

01Dec/17

Value of beef open lot manure assuming crop benefits from potassium supplementation and 5% increase in yield. Estimated manure value is $28/ton.

What is the Economic Value of Manure?

December 1, 2017Manureagriculture, animal manure management, cattle, cattle manure, dairy manure, fertilizer value, manure and soil health, manure benefits, manure nutrients, manure value, nebraska, nutrients, phosphorus, potassium, swine, swine manureLeslie Johnson

Manure has value. That value may result from improvements in soil quality, increases in yield, and replacement of commercial nutrient required for crop production. Previous articles on manure’s value have focused on its soil health, environmentalRead More…

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