Tag Archives: soil organic matter

17Jul/24

Activating the soil starts at the surface

July 17, 2024Soil Health2024, agriculture, cover crops, crops, digital cafe, erosion, farmers, farming, organic matter, research, runoff, science, soil, soil amendments, soil health, soil health webinar, soil health webinars, soil organic matter, soil tilth, soils, webinar, webinar seriesLeslie Johnson

Conservation management brings soil to life. Measuring these changes in soil life can be simple and yet robust as indicators of key soil functions. This Digital Café featured Alan Franzluebbers, Ecologist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, who described how soil-test biological activity can indicate improved soil health. This webinar was originally broadcasted July 17, 2024.

19Apr/24

Soil health and nutrient management: What it can and cannot do

April 19, 2024Manure, Soil Health2024, agriculture, digital cafe, extension, farmers, farming, nutrient management, nutrients, organic matter, soil amendments, soil health, soil health webinar, soil health webinars, soil organic matter, soil testing, soils, webinar, webinar seriesLeslie Johnson

Improved soil health provides several benefits to crops and water quality. However, there are limitations and as a result, some misconceptions exist. This presentation features Chad Penn, Research Soil Scientist at USDA-ARS and Adjunct Professor of Agronomy at Purdue University, who addresses how improved soil health impacts soil fertility and nutrient transport, as well as dispelling common myths.This presentation was originally broadcast on April 17, 2024.

16Dec/20

Just-in-Time Soil Health

December 16, 2020Soil Health2020, digital cafe, organic matter, soil health, soil health concepts, soil health webinar, soil organic matter, webinar seriesLeslie Johnson

As part of the Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe Series, Andrew McGuire at Washington State University, presents “Just-in-Time Soil Health”. This presentation was originally broadcast on December 16, 2020.

16Nov/19

Poultry manure improves profits, soil health

November 16, 2019Manure, Soil Healthagriculture, animal manure management, erosion, farmers, farming, manure, manure application, manure benefits, nutrients, organic matter, phosphorus, poultry litter, poultry manure, research, runoff, science, soil organic matter, soils, state of the science, water qualityLeslie Johnson

A 20-year study by Iowa State University researchers shows fertilizing cropland with poultry manure can benefit soil health and farm profits when compared to a commercial fertilizer. The study looked at long-term impacts of poultry manure on soil quality, crop yield, production costs and water quality in conventional Iowa cropping systems.

25Mar/19

Soil Health Not Just a Trending Topic

March 25, 2019Soil Healthagregates, agriculture, crops, erosion, farmers, farming, soil health, soil organic matter, soil tilth, soilsLeslie Johnson

Many of us take the soil we stand on for granted, including myself. I mean, it’s everywhere – especially on my carpet with 2 boys in my house. However, without soil, we can’t grow crops. Farmers know that soil is a critical part of farming, and making sure that soil can continue to grow crops for many years to come is at the forefront of every farmer’s mind – sometimes without even realizing it.

01Feb/19

Soil Health Events Coming Soon!

February 1, 2019Soil Healthagriculture, cover crops, crops, farmers, farming, nebraska, organic matter, science, soil, soil amendments, soil health, soil organic matter, soil tilth, soils, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

Soil health conferences in South Dakota and Nebraska will take place on February 14, 2019.

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.

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…