Tag Archives: soil health

28Sep/18

Maintaining soil fertility is important for soil health

September 28, 2018Manureagriculture, crops, farming, fertility, nutrients, phosphorus, research, soil, soil amendments, soil health, soils, soybeans, state of the science

Maintaining soil fertility is important not only for profitable crop production, but also soil health. In a long-term P and K fertility trial, we can see that there is much greater residue cover in plots that have received adequate potash applications over time compared to where no K was applied. Application of P had minimal to no effect on residue cover.

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.

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.

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…

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…

01Aug/17

A recently added aggregate of livestock manure (left) versus a heavy soil aggregate of poor structure on the right.

Soil Organic Matter and Its Benefits

August 1, 2017Manureagregates, agriculture, animal manure management, beef manure, farmers, manure and soil health, manure application, organic matter, soil health, soil organic matter, soil tilthLeslie Johnson

Soils of Northern Great Plains are relatively young (11000 to 14000 years old) and have some of the highest organic matter levels (4 to 7%) of all mineral soils in the United States (Overstreet and DeJong-Huges,Read More…

26Jul/17

Research suggests that manured fields experience lower erosion and runoff. This article summarizes a Nebraska research initiative that supports these conclusions..

Manure’s Value to Erosion and Runoff

July 26, 2017Manure, Soil Healtherosion, manure, manure benefits, manure value, runoff, soil health

Manure’s impact on formation of larger and more stable soil aggregates was the focus of a July 2017 MaSH blog. This article reviews the soil erosion and runoff benefits that results from changes to soil’s physicalRead More…

03Jul/17

Manure Impact on Soil Aggregation

July 3, 2017Manureagriculture, animal manure management, manure, manure and soil health, research, science, soil amendments, soil health, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

If manure increases formation of larger (macro) and more stable soil aggregates, several benefits may result for fields fertilized by manure compared to commercial fertilizer including: Reduced runoff and soil erosion; Increased water infiltration into theRead More…

01May/17

Manure and Soil Health Presentations Bring Experts, Give Voice to Wondering Minds

May 1, 2017Manure, Soil Healthagriculture, animal manure management, discussions, manure, manure and soil health, research, roundtables, science, soil health, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

Farmers and ranchers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of soil quality/health to the productivity and sustainability of their agricultural system. Research and field observations have demonstrated that carefully managed manure applications can contribute toRead More…

19Apr/17

Should farmers strive for more organic matter mineralization or stabilization?

April 19, 2017Soil Healthfarmers, farming, manure and soil health, nutrients, organic, soil health, waterBrandon Schmit

Tunsisa Hurisso and Steve Culman, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University In short, the answer is usually both. Soil organic matter is a mixture consisting of various compounds (e.g. simple sugars, cellulose, proteins,Read More…