www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 field-indicators Field Indicators The next approach is more specific. In several states, farmers and researchers have developed “soil health scorecards.” The differences in soils and climates suggest that there is no uniform scorecard that can be used everywhere. Nor is there a magic number or index value for soil health. The goal of these scorecards is to help you […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 general-field-observations General Field Observations A simple but very good place to start assessing a soil’s health is to look at its general performance as you go about your normal practices. It’s something like wondering about your own performance during the course of a day: Do you have less energy than usual? This might be an indication that something isn’t […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 summary-and-sources-14 Summary and Sources Summary The preponderance of research indicates that there is no “ideal” ratio of cations held on the CEC with which farmers should try to bring their soils into conformity. It also indicates that the percent base saturation has no usefulness for farmers. Professor E. O. McLean (a former student of Albrecht) and coworkers at Ohio State […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 the-basic-cation-saturation-ratio-system The Basic Cation Saturation Ratio System This section deals with a somewhat complicated topic and is intended to clarify the issues for those interested in soil chemistry and a more in-depth look at the BCSR (or base ratio) system. Background The basic cation saturation ratio system, which attempts to balance the amount of Ca, Mg, and K in soils according to […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 managing-field-nutrient-variability Managing Field Nutrient Variability Many large fields have considerable variation in soil types and fertility levels. Site-specific application of crop nutrients and lime using variable-rate technology may be economically and environmentally advantageous for these situations. Soil pH levels, P, and K often show considerable variability across a large field capacity because of non-uniform application of fertilizers and manures, natural […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 making-adjustments-to-fertilizer-application-rates Making Adjustments to Fertilizer Application Rates If information about cropping history, cover crops, and manure use is not provided to the soil testing laboratory, the report containing the fertilizer recommendation cannot take those factors into account. Below is an example of how you can modify the report’s recommendations: Past crop = corn Cover crop = crimson clover, but small to medium amount […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 adjusting-a-soil-test-recommendation Adjusting a Soil Test Recommendation Specific recommendations must be tailored to the crops you want to grow, as well as other characteristics of the particular soil, climate, and cropping system. Most soil test reports use information that you supply about manure use and previous crops to adapt a general recommendation for your situation. However, once you feel comfortable with interpreting […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 interpreting-soil-test-results Interpreting Soil Test Results Below are five soil test examples, including discussion about what they tell us and the types of practices farmers should follow to satisfy plant nutrient needs on these soils. Suggestions are provided for conventional farmers and organic producers. These are just suggestions— there are other satisfactory ways to meet the needs of crops growing on […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 testing-soils-for-organic-matter Testing Soils for Organic Matter A word of caution when comparing your soil test organic matter levels with those discussed in this book. If your laboratory reports organic matter as “weight loss” at high temperature, the numbers may be higher than if the lab uses the traditional wet chemistry method. A soil with 3% organic matter by wet chemistry might […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 soil-testing-for-p Soil Testing for P Soil test procedures for phosphorus are different than those for nitrogen. When testing for phosphorus, the soil is usually sampled to plow depth in the fall or in the early spring before tillage and the sample usually analyzed for phosphorus, potassium, sometimes other nutrients (such as calcium, magnesium, and micronutrients), and pH. The methods used to […]