Soil Health for Landowners Jamie Patton Senior Outreach Specialist Nutrient and Pest Management Program University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin - Extension
In a Brief 30 Minutes… • Provide a basic understanding of: • The soil health concept • Soil health’s impact on agricultural productivity • How to promote soil health on your land https://www.travelwisconsin.com/statewide-regional-associations/driftless-wisconsin-196226
Soils are pre- Illinoian… >790,000 years old Maintained diverse and productive ecosystems without management through European settlement https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/survey/office/ssr12/?cid=nrcs141p2_030655 https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/parks-recreation/natural-resources/environmental-education/como-woodland-outdoor-11
What is Soil Health? …continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans Soil is alive. To stay alive, it needs food, water, air, and shelter … https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/health/#:~:text=Soil%20health%2C%20also%20referred%20to,are%20sustainable%20for%20future%20generations https://www.gardenmyths.com/soil-microbes-need-to-add-them-garden/.
We Need Healthy Soils A healthy soil… Provides plant WANTS Grows sufficient and nutritious food and feed Supports clean water and air Provides suitable habitat Reduces the need for inputs https://www.dirt-to-dinner.com/soil-microbes-in-the-spotlight/
Agricultural Soils • Agriculture systems often do not… • Maintain continuous cover • Maintain live plants all year round • Include diverse plants • Include soil disturbances Food, water, air and shelter?
Healthy Soils • Healthy agricultural soils have… • Increasing or stable SOM levels
https://www.pitchcare.com/news-media/soil-organic-matter-is-good.html
Soil Organic Matter It’s estimated 1% organic matter contains… 1000 lbs N 100 lbs P 100 lbs K 1000 lbs @ $.40 = $400 100 lbs S 100 lbs @ $.40 = $40 100 lbs @ $.30 = $30 100 lbs @ $.60 = $60 $530/ 1% SOM UNDERSTANDING SOIL MICROBES AND NUTRIENT RECYCLING James J. Hoorman, Rafiq Islam, http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/SAG-16
Soil Organic Matter Additional Days of Plant Available Water 7 to 10 days 6 to 8 days 4 to 5 days 3+ days 1+ day 2 3 1 4 5
Soil Organic Matter 1% SOM = ~1.5 days of water Up to 7% yield loss with 4 days of water deficit 170 bu/A * 7% = 12 bu/A $4/bu 1% = $48/A per water stress event?
https://www.sare.org/Le arning- Center/Bulletins/Cover- Crop-Economics
What is your SOM? SOM loss is EASY… Gains take time! You can monitor SOM levels using your NMP… • Routing soil tests • Soil Conditioning Index
SnapPlus Soil Conservation Report
Crop Rotation and Tillage Impacts on SOM
Crop Rotation and Tillage Impacts on SOM Simulation ran with 6% slope…Impacts are greater on steeper slopes!
Healthy Soils • Healthy agricultural soils have… • Increasing/stable SOM • Signs of life
How fast does the crop residue decompose? How does the soil smell? How many earthworms are in a shovel of soil?
Healthy Soils • Healthy agricultural soils have… • Increasing/stable SOM • Signs of life • Limited compaction
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http://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/state/2016/10/19/advisory-given-dealing-field-ruts/92404378/
What impact does soil compaction have on soil and plant function?
Compaction can cause 25 to 50% yield loss 170 bu/A * 25% * $4/bu = $170/A Increase tillage costs by 35% 2 pass * $16/pass = $32/A 35% increase = $11.20/A Raghavan, GSV, Alvo, P, and McKyes, E. 1990. Soil Compaction in Agriculture: A View Toward Managing the Problem. In: Advances in Soil Science: Soil Degradation. Lal, R and Stewart, BA, editors. Springer, NY
Losses Persist… Assuming 170 bu/A corn @ $4/bu Cumulative loss over 10 years – 120 bu/A – $480/A Sustained loss – 5 bu/A/yr – $20/A/yr Hakansson , I. and R. C. Reeder. 1994. “Subsoil compaction by vehicles with high axle load—extent, persistence, and crop response.” Soil T illage Research 29:277 – 304
Healthy Soils • Healthy agricultural soils have… • Increasing/stable SOM • Signs of life • Little compaction • High water infiltration rates • Little erosion
Water Infiltration – Spring 2015 Permanent Vegetation 10.6 in/hr Corn-Soybeans-Wheat 3.9 in/hr
Permanent Vegetation 6.7 inches less potential runoff More plant available water Less erosion 1/10 th inch runoff may start erosion
Fall 2014 Aggregate Stability Permanent Vegetation 97% Corn-Soybean-Wheat 71%
Assuming 1 acre to 1” at a bulk density of 1.33 Mg/m3 ~297,000 pounds of soil 26% more aggregate stability ~77,220 lbs less “loose” soil per acre ~ 39 tons per acre better protected from erosion
Average 3 to 8 tons/A/yr loss in southern WI $7/ton lost yield and decreased water quality per year = $56/A/yr 3 to 7% decline in land value = $4000/A * 3% = $120/A/yr
SnapPlus Soil Conservation Report
Putting it all together – a FUZZY annual partial budget • 1% increase in organic matter Unaccounted for: • 3% mineralizes annually – Agronomic $530 x 0.03 = $10.60/A Weed control, forages, • Water holding capacity – $48/A conservation of machinery/energy/man hours, • Biological activity resiliency, etc … • Priceless… Environmental Benefits Surface water quality and quantity, • Less compaction ground water quality and quantity, • Yield conservation – $170/A habitat protection, air quality, • Tillage cost savings – $11.20/A flood abatement, reduced sedimentation, etc … • Less erosion • Yield conservation – $56/A • Land value preservation $120/A $415.80/A/yr
Soil Health Builds Resiliency
https://twitter.com/USDA_NRCS/status/975756359214931968/photo/1
Questions? Jamie Patton Senior Outreach Specialist Nutrient and Pest Management Program jjpatton2@wisc.edu (608) 807-8530
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