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Enhancing Soil Biology for Greater Soil Health
Justin MorrisRegional Soil Health Specialist
USDA-NRCS
Ray Archuleta: “Ray the Soil Guy”
Doug Peterson
SOIL HEALTH:
The capacity of a soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.
Understand psychological,
social, and ecological
context
Cover the soil at all times
Grow a living root 24/7
Reduce chemical,
biological, and physical stress
Synergize with diversity: crop rotations and cover crops
Integrate diversity of
animals
Human integrity= ecological integrity
Holistic Planning
Modern agriculture and society runs on ancient sunlight!
What is the most important item in the water cycle?
7
Timpas, Colorado, Jan 12, 2014
What have WE learned in 79 years?
April 14, 1935
Soil Scientists in the U.S. have determined that soil losses of up to 5 tons/acre/year are tolerable and acceptable when practicing agriculture.
• Is any soil loss tolerable?• Is any soil loss acceptable?
Exud
ates
Soil Root
Rhizosphere
Rhizosphere
The number of organisms in the rhizosphere is up to 2,000 times higher than in the rest of the soil.
Regeneration Through Soil Health
The living soil!
Soil health begins with a functioning water cycle
The Underground Livestock Herd
Type of Organism Number/Acre Pounds/AcreBacteria 800,000,000,000,000,000,000 2,600 Actinobacteria 20,000,000,000,000,000 1,300Fungi 200,000,000,000,000 2,600Algae 4,000,000,000 90Protozoa 2,000,000,000,000 90Nematodes 80,000,000 45Earthworms 40,000 445Insects /arthropods 8,160,000 830
8,000Soil Food Web
Rhizosphere
• Number one food source of most soil organisms is a living root.
• Living roots release many types of organic materials into the rhizosphere around the surface of the root.
Plants interacting with mycorrhizal fungi
• Assists with P uptake from the soil
• Moves P from the non-legume plant to the legume plant
• Moves N from the legume plant to the non-legume plant
The Nature and Property of Soils, Brady and Weil
When soil temp reaches. . .140° F
130° F
100° F
70° F
Soil bacteria die
100% moisture lost through evaporation & transpiration
15% moisture is used for growth 85% moisture lost through evaporation & transpiration
100% moisture is used for growth
J.J. Mc Entre, USDA SCS, Kerrville, TX, 1956
What does diversity really mean?
Cool-season grassWarm-season grassCool-season broadleafWarm-season broadleaf
Root Diversity
A Balanced Diet in Pasture
Soil organisms are like livestock…they require a balanced diet to attain high performance
Building Soil
How did nature make all that soil in the first place?
10 - 12”
6”
Benefit of more paddocks
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2 4 8 12 16 32
Number of paddocks
Perc
ent R
est
Daily intake/days on paddock
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Days onPaddock
Intake %Bodyweight
Improving Soil Health on Pasture
• Don’t overgraze– Don’t keep animals too long in one spot– Don’t allow livestock to return too soon– Don’t allow plants to be grazed right after coming out of
dormancy
• Maintain adequate residual– Cover, cover, cover– It takes leaves to grow more leaves
• Increase stocking density not stocking rate– Don’t allow livestock to consume more than 50%– Plants need to be more mature for good trample effect– Very short graze periods (1 day or less)
For More Information
Justin Morris, Regional Soil Health SpecialistNatural Resources Conservation ServiceMadison, WisconsinPhone: 608-514-4377Email: [email protected]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.