Did you know that maintaining good soil is one of the easiest and most effective ways for farmers to improve production and their profits?
Good soil is balanced. It provides an environment that sustains and nourishes the world around it, including plants, soil microbes and beneficial insects. This in turn helps your farm to be more efficient and resilient.
To enjoy the benefits of healthy soil, start with a few basic steps:
1. Take a Sample
The first step is to get to know your soil. Start by soil sampling your fields through a state or private testing lab. Plan to sample both suspected problem areas as well as areas that seem more stable, and from both surface and subsurface soil layers.
Once you receive your results, a trusted adviser can help you update your nutrient management and fertility plans to improve soil health.
2. Do Not Disturb
The next step is to leave the soil undisturbed as much as possible. Tillage can destroy SOM, the key to healthy soil. It also changes the soil structure and habitat that soil organisms need to thrive.
The best way to protect your soil is by adopting a Reduced-Till/No-Till system. This can:
Increase production
Over time, undisturbed soil will gain more SOM and retain more water to better cycle crop nutrients, support root growth and sequester carbon more efficiently.
Reduce erosion
Soil covered year-round with crops, crop residue or cover crops is less susceptible to erosion from wind and water.
Save money
Decreasing tillage operations can lead to savings on fuel and labor costs. Plus improved nutrient cycling can potentially reduce input costs to maintain yields.
Proper management of production inputs and rotational livestock grazing can also help maintain soil health.
3. Cover
The last step is to focus on plant diversity with cover crops. Not only do cover crops improve soil health, they help prevent disease and pest problems, too. As a result, farmers can reduce input costs which leads to increased efficiency and, ultimately, profitability.
Cover crops are grasses, legumes and other ground cover vegetation. They can be planted any time of year, typically following main crops.
Cover crops can:
Restore soil health
More living roots increases soil organic matter (SOM) and improves water filtration. Plus, certain crops add nutrients lost after harvest or during winter.
Protect natural resources
Cover crops protect soil against erosive weather patterns and balance natural nutrients found in the soil.
Feed livestock
Livestock producers can use cover crops as additional forage opportunities.
Serve as a habitat for beneficial wildlife
Birds and other wildlife find winter food, cover and nesting sites in cover crops. During the growing season, they attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Planting several cover crop species together increases their impact on soil health. Each kind has benefits, so it’s important to choose the right mixture to meet the needs of your operation.
A Soil Health Management System Can Help
The 3 steps above are just the start of your journey to healthy soil. There are a variety of ways to create your own soil health management system. Your operation may benefit from just one of these practices, or a combination may be most effective.
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Read More Related Content Here:
-Good Soil Goes a Long Way
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-Make Your Soil Count
