Fundamentals of Soil Health: With Special Reference to Biosolids George W. Bird, Professor Michigan State University If an individual understands why, he or she will teach himself or herself how (after Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1916, The Principles of Fruit Growing).
Healthy Soil Overview • Nature of Healthy Soil
Healthy Soil Overview • Nature of Healthy Soils • Introduction to Your Friends that Live in the Soil – Who are They? – What are Their Functions? – Life in the Soil Video
Healthy Soil Overview • Nature of Healthy Soil • Introduction to Your Friends that Live in the Soil – Who are They? – What are Their Functions? – Life in the Soil Video • Development and Maintenance of Healthy Soil – Healthy Soil Analysis – Healthy Soil Management
Conceptual Model of a Healthy Soil Healthy Soil System Desired System Air Inputs Response Shoot Crop - Soil that responds to System management in a Root predictable manner and Soil Management System resists degradation. Decisions -High quality healthy garden with balanced root and shoot system Healthy Soil growth. System Monitoring
Healthy Soil • Healthy soil is a soil that responds to management in a predictable manner. • Healthy soil resists degradation. • A healthy soil is based on its: – Biology (living organisms), – Physical-chemical attributes and – Responses to management practices.
Nature of Healthy Soils • Regenerative living ecosystem
Nature of Healthy Soil • Regenerative living ecosystem. • Place where energy and matter are transformed and transported. • Foundation of successful crops.
Living Systems What is Life? A science-based theory of living systems was developed by Capra in 1996. This theory of life consists of three properties: • A living system is continually self-making or reproducing.
Living Systems What is Life? A science-based theory of living systems was developed by Capra in 1996. This theory of life consists of three properties: • A living system is continually self-making or reproducing. • A living system continually takes in matter (food) and energy for transformation into garden plants, flowers and fruit. This mandates continual elimination of residuals .
Living Systems What is Life? A science-based theory of living systems was developed by Capra in 1996. This theory of life consists of three properties: • A living system is continually self-making or reproducing. • A living system continually takes in matter (food) and energy for transformation into garden plants, flowers and fruit. This mandates continual elimination of residuals . • A living system has the ability to sense and respond to its environment ( cognition or knowing.
Components of Healthy Soil • Gas (Source of Carbon) • Liquid (Source of Water) • Solid (Source of almost everything else) – Mineral – Organic Matter
Components of Healthy Soil – Organic Matter • Dead (Humus) • Decomposing (Plant matter) • Living Soil-Borne Organisms (your friends)
Four Processes of Healthy Soil • Decomposition • Nutrient Immobilization • Nutrient Fixation • Nutrient Mineralization
3 DOMAINS and 23 KINGDOMS OF LIFE (plus viruses and prions) EUKARYA BACTERIA ARACHAEA (PROKARYA) Eleven Kingdoms Animals Six Kingdoms Plants Six Kingdoms Fungi Flagellates Ciliates Entamoebae VIRUSES (Chemical Messengers) PRIONS
Nine Healthy Soil Organisms • Treat them well and they will take care of you. • Who are they? – Bacteria - Fungi - Actinomycetes – Nematodes - Amoebae - Flagellates – Ciliates - Arthropods - Earthworms
Decomposers • Bacteria (C:N = 5:1) – Soft tissues • Fungi – Cell walls (cellulose and hemicellulose) • Actinomycetes – Tough stuff (lignin)
Immobilization • Incorporation of matter and energy into the bodies of Bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes as a result of the process of their feeding.
Shredders Earthworms Arthropods
Immobilization • Incorporation of matter and energy into the bodies of Bacteria, Fungi and Actinomycetes as a result of the process of their feeding. • The results is the same for all other soil- borne heterotropic organisms.
Processes of Nutrient Mineralization and Fixation Ionic (inorganic) forms of matter used by plants as a source of nitrogen. + NH 4 - NO 3 Fixation Mineralization (assimilation) Organic forms not directly usable Proteins (Amino Acids) Nucleic Acids Microbial cell wall (immobilization) Nitrogen transport and transformation in soil and compost Bird, 2004
Mineralizers Nematode Ciliate Flagellate
Role of nematodes, flagellates, Energy CO 2 ciliates and amoebae in nutrient mineralization Shoot System Rhizosphere + NH 4 Nematode C:N 10:1 NO 3 ─ Bacteria Sugar C:N 5:1 Root Exudate System H 2 O Nutrients Bird, 2011
The Living Soil Video
Three Phases of Crop Systems • Development – Crop establishment • Dynamic Equilibrium – Optimal Crop Production • Senescence – Declining crop production
Cornell University Soil Health Assessment System • Physical – Water Stable Aggregates % stability
Cornell University Soil Health Assessment System • Physical – Water Stable Aggregates % stability
Cornell University Soil Health Assessment System • Physical – Water Stable Aggregates % stability – Water Holding Capacity grams/gram – Surface Hardness pounds/square inch – Subsurface Hardness pounds/square inch
Cornell University Soil Health Assessment System • Physical • Biological (continued) – Water Stable Aggregates – Root Health 0-9 index – Water Holding Capacity – Surface Hardness – Subsurface Hardness • Biological – Soil Organic Matter % – Active Carbon ppm – N Mineralization potential µgN/g dw soil/week
Cornell University Soil Health Assessment System • Physical • Biological (continued) – Water Stable Aggregates – Root Health • Chemical – Water Holding Capacity – pH – Surface Hardness – Extractable Phosphorus – Subsurface Hardness • Biological – Extractable Potassium – Soil Organic Matter – Minor Elements – Active Carbon – N Mineralization potential
Soil Health Results Survey (96 Michigan Sites) • Physical • Biological (continued) – Water Stable Aggregates – Root Health – Water Holding Capacity • Chemical – pH – Surface Hardness – Extractable Phosphorus – Subsurface Hardness – Extractable Potassium • Biological – Minor Elements – Soil Organic Matter • Survey Score – Active Carbon – 57.7 (based on 0 to 100 scale) – N Mineralization potential
Impact of Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicide Six Year Means Straw/Hay Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670
Impact of Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicide Six Year Means Hay/Straw Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713
Impact of Smart Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicide Six Year Means Hay/Straw Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713 C mineralization (mg/g) 675 825 550
Impact of Smart Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicide Six Year Means Straw/Hay Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713 C mineralization (mg/g) 675 825 550 N mineralization (mg/g) 45 55 35
Impact of Smart Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicides Six Year Means Straw/Hay Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713 C mineralization (mg/g) 675 825 550 N mineralization (mg/g) 45 55 35 Good/Bad Nematodes 8 8 3
Impact of Smart Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicides Six Year Means Hay/Straw Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713 C mineralization (mg/g) 675 825 550 N mineralization (mg/g) 45 55 35 Good/Bad Nematodes 8 8 3 15.0 15.9 Biomass (tons/ha) 18.5
Impact of Smart Management on Soil Health and Crop Productivity Compost Tillage and Herbicides Six Year Means Straw/Hay Mulch Carbon (mg/kg) 10,750 9,602 8,670 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 740 725 713 C mineralization (mg/g) 675 825 550 N mineralization (mg/g) 45 55 35 Good/Bad Nematodes 8 8 3 Biomass (tons/ha) 18.5 15.0 15.9 Soil + Management Patterns of Soil Health and Plant Productivity
Impact of Management on Soil Health and Nematodes Alfalfa Mulch Tillage Soil depth (0-30 cm) Soil organic matter (%) 2.4 2.1 45 Carbon (tons/ha) 47 7 Nitrogen (mg/kg) 24 C mineralization (mg/kg) 1250 1050 N mineralization (mg/kg) 90 75 Nematodes/cc soil 1246 343 Good/Bad Nematodes 28.3 13.5 Bad Nematode /100 cm soil 1 a 22
Soil Biology Where do your friends the nutrient mineralizers live?
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