Organic Soil Amendments
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| What are some benefits of manure? | Source of nutrients - slowly releases N, P, K;
Adds organic matter - 20-40% organic solids in manure;
soil microbial improvements
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| What are some problems with manure as a soil amendment? | Leaching and runoff of nitrates and phosphates (nitrate leaching more of an issue in storage);
Generation of gaseous air pollutants (Methane/Ammonia);
Applying evenly
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| What are some of the best management practices for manure? | Test manure/soil applied to for nutrient levels;
Base manure rate on phosphorus levels;
Incorporate manure into soil quickly;
Compost excess manure and sell it
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| What is composting? | aerobic decomposition of manure or other organic materials - generates temps up to 150 degrees;
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| What is composting used most in? | horticultural and high value crops
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| What does composting provide? | Source of nutrient;
Organic matter
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| When did land application of biosolids start happening and why? | 1992 when ocean dumping was prohibited
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| What are some regulations the EPA has on land application? | Treatments to eliminate hazards;
Restrictions on types of land/crops;
No food crops
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| What are some biosolids problems? | Pollutants;
Human Pathogens;
Human disease vectors;
Pathogens;
Others
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| Pollutants | Heavy metals;
Industrial household chemicals
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| Human Disease Vectors | Insects;
Rodents
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| Pathogens | try to destroy them w/ heat and other treatments
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| Others | Odor;
Soluable Salts
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| What was the first and second benefit recognized for adopting no-till? | Reduced soil erosion;
Saving water
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| What are some No-till benefits? | Saves water;
Reduces Erosion;
Less Fuel/Labor Costs;
Less equipment costs;
Less field prep time;
Increases soil quality;
Carbon sequestration;
Less dust, air pollution
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| What is some beneficial no-till equipment? | Rolling spikes (Planter);
Hydraulic Down pressure
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| Principles of Soil Health | Minimize Disturbance;
Maximize Soil Cover;
Maximize Biodiversity;
Maximize Days w/ Living Roots
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| What are some no-till challenges? | Transitional Period;
Slower to dry out;
Soil slower to warm;
Specialized planting equipment;
Nutrient Management Challenges;
Increased Diseases;
Pesticide Use;
Cand Furrow Irrigate
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| What are some keys to successful no-till? | Diverse rotations with 3 crops at least;
Increase Cropping Intensity ;
Systems maintained low disturbance at planting;
More focus on pest management;
Changes in Methods of applying fertilizers - more 'at planting' applications
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| Cropping Intenstity | Use little or no fallow;
use cover and deep rooted crops
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| What is traditional definition of cover crop? | crop grown just to protect the soil from erosion
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| What is today's definition of cover crop? | Crop planted between periods of regular crop production to:
Positively benefit soil;
Aid in pest control;
Improve success of no-till productions;
use as grazing resource (Integrating Livestock)
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| Cover Crop Soil Benefits | Adds organic matter
Increase water infiltration;
Reduce soil erosion;
Breakup soil compaction;
Increases soil biological activity;
Increases soil Nitrogen content (legumes);
Nutrient cycling (reduce nitrate leaching);
Nutrient pumping
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| Grazing | plants grazed - secrets chemicals into soils = biology/aggregation
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| Other Cover Crop Benefits | Weed suppression - growing/later seasons;
Disease/insect pest cycles broken by adding biological time;
Provides additional grazing for livestock
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| When can you use cover crops? | After Wheat Harvest;
After corn/soybeans;
Early spring prior to seeding summer crop
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| After Wheat Harvest | Provides long growth period potential:
August to freeze or spring if winter species;
Fall grazing opportunity
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| After corn/soybeans | Challenge of short growth period before freeze:
Longer periods after silage corn/seed corn;
Possible arial seeding before harvest
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| Early spring prior to seeding summer crop | Seed as early as field conditions/weather allow;
May jumpstart microbial activity;
Timing of killing cover crop influences moisture/nitrogen for summer crop
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| Cover Crop Examples | Legumes;
Brassicas;
Grasses;
Other broadleaves
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| Legumes | Increases Nitrogen in soils;
Low C:N ratio;
Beans, peas, vetches, clovers
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| Brassicas | Excellent nutrient cycling/residue decay;
Tremendous roots;
Frost hardy;
Radish, Turnip, Rapeseed (non-food canola)
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| Grasses | Produce lots of dry matter;
Good for grazing;
High C:N ratios;
Oats, Rye, Triticale, Millets, Sudangrasses
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| Other Broadleaves | Sunflowers, Flax, Safflower, Buckwheat;
Match to your goal
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| What are some advantages of mixes? | More consistent growth under various weather/field conditions;
Support greater variety of microbial activity in soils;
Different plant heights/canopies, thus better light utillzation;
Variety of crops provide more balanced grazing mixture for cattle
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| What are some examples of a balanced grazing mixture for the cattle? | Legumes higher in protein;
Grasses higher in tons of feed;
Brassicas very good grazing
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| What are some other management considerations? | Grazing removes soil quality benefits - partial/mob grazing strategy;
Must be aware of herbicide carry-over impact on cover crop - herbicide restrictions on grazing;
Ways to reduce seed costs
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| Ways to reduce costs | Typical costs $20-$40/acre;
Nitrogen/grazing benefits can justify costs
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