Each spring, the Red River Valley bursts with life, producing staple crops like potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, corn, soybeans and edible beans. Boosted by the fertile soils handed down from generations-old glacial and lake deposits, growing potential is abundant.
But, while Red River Valley soil is ripe for growing success, it’s also fickle and occasionally fragile, constantly at risk from moisture extremes, erosion and chemical irregularities. Imbalance in management of these soils can cause growers in the region to fall victim to some of soil health’s most pressing pitfalls, which can lead them down a path toward yield-loss for generations.
“What is unique about our soils is that they are heavily clay-based,” says Chris Huffman, crop consultant, Centrol Ag Consulting. “They are incredibly fertile, but they have a tendency to get too wet and stay too wet. They are also made up of very fine particles that blow and erode very easily.”
Huffman says that management of this soil type requires diligence and balance.
“With absolutely no tillage, those soils may not dry out well enough in the spring to get a crop in on time, but with too much tillage and/or not enough soil cover, those clay particles will blow and erode off the soil surface incredibly quickly,” he says.
Left unchecked, these vulnerabilities can cause major yield losses and long-term soil decline. Fortunately, soil health issues can be spotted early, and many are reversible with soil health strategies.
Erosion
A flat topography sets this region up for disaster in terms of soil erosion.
“Like most people familiar with agriculture in the Red River Valley, it doesn’t take long to see a horror story in the spring,” Huffman says. “Often the wind blows 40-50 MPH in the early spring prior to any cover being on the soil, and it isn’t uncommon to see dirt clouds blowing across the countryside from a field that was overworked or left too bare.”
Similarly, when hard rains hit the flat ground, topsoil has a tendency to pool, puddle or wash into ditches or roadways. A region that boasts more than 100 inches of annual snowfall equals soils that are constantly under threat even when snow-covered. Snirt, or snow erosion, can occur when snow mixes with topsoil and then blows or washes into ditches or roadways.
Soil Compaction
Soil particles that are compressed have reduced pore space, which can limit the movement of air, water and roots throughout. Additionally, compact soils that have poor water infiltration can act as a blocker for waterflow into plant roots. Crops grown in compact soils can suffer from uneven plant stand, stunted plant growth or shallow or distorted roots.
Soil Nutrient Depletion
Plants rely upon the soil to provide many of the necessary nutrients for adequate growth. When soils lose organic matter and biological diversity, essential soil functions like nitrogen fixation, mineralization and disease suppression can weaken.
When this happens, plant health can pay the price, resulting in pale or yellowed leaves and stunted root systems. Growers who battle soil nutrient depletion often turn to synthetic fertilizers to stay afloat.
Over time, this can turn into a cycle where soil loses its ability to recover and regenerate on its own, leading to a future where depleted soils lose productivity potential.
Soil Salinity
In the Red River Valley and surrounding plains, one especially difficult soil health concern is salinity, or the concentration of salts in the soil, specifically sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chloride and sulfates.
A build-up of these minerals can significantly damage plant health and increase the potential for erosion by causing a crusty upper layer of the soil that is tough to penetrate.
Soil health pitfalls are treatable. If you feel like your soils are suffering from any of these symptoms, seek out a local trusted advisor that can provide solutions to begin investing in your soil health, both in short and long-term ways. Visit www.trustinfood.com/soilhealthselfcheck to find resources in the Red River Valley.
