www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 management-of-n-and-p Management of N and P Nitrogen and phosphorus behave very differently in soils, but many of the management strategies are actually the same or very similar. They include the following: 1. Take all nutrient sources into account. Estimate nutrient availability from all sources. Use soil tests to assess available nutrients. Use manure and compost tests to determine nutrient contributions. Consider […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 sources-6 Sources Mikkelsen, R., and T.K. Hartz. 2008. Nitrogen sources for organic crop production. Better Crops 92(4): 16–19. OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs). 1997. Nutrient Management. Best Management Practices Series. Available from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Parnes, R. 1990. Fertile Soil: A Grower’s Guide to Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers. Davis, CA: […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 using-fertilizers-and-amendments Using Fertilizers and Amendments There are four main questions when applying nutrients: How much is needed? What source(s) should be used? When should the fertilizer or amendment be applied? How should the fertilizer or amendment be applied? Chapter 21 details the use of soil tests to help you decide how much fertilizer or organic nutrient sources to apply. Here […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 improving-nutrient-cycling-on-the-farm Improving Nutrient Cycling on the Farm For economic and environmental reasons, it makes sense for plants to more efficiently utilize nutrient cycling on the farm. Goals should include a reduction in long-distance nutrient flows, as well as promoting “true” on-farm cycling, in which nutrients return in the form of crop residue or manure to the fields from which they came. There […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 organic-matter-and-nutrient-availability Organic Matter and Nutrient Availability The best single overall strategy for nutrient management is to enhance the levels of organic matter in soils (figure 18.1). This is especially true of N and P. Soil organic matter, together with any freshly applied residues, are well-known sources of N for plants. Mineralization of P and sulfur from organic matter is also an important […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 the-bottom-line-nutrients-and-plant-health-pests-profits-and-the-environment The Bottom Line: Nutrients and Plant Health, Pests, Profits, and the Environment Management practices are all related. The key is to visualize them all as whole-farm management, leading you to the goals of better crop growth and better environmental quality. If a soil has good tilth, no subsurface compaction, good drainage, adequate water, and a good supply of organic matter, plants should be healthy and have large root […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 summary-and-sources-12 Summary and Sources Summary Irrigation and drainage allow for high yields in areas that otherwise have shortages or excesses of water. There is no doubt that we need such water management practices to secure a food supply for a growing population and provide the high yields needed to arrest the conversion of natural lands into agriculture. Some of […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 drainage Drainage Soils that are naturally poorly drained and have inadequate aeration are generally high in organic matter content. But poor drainage makes them unsuitable for growing most crops other than a few water-loving plants like rice and cranberries. When such soils are artificially drained, they become very productive, as the high organic matter content provides all the […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 irrigation Irrigation There are several different types of irrigation systems, depending on water source, size of the system, and water application method. Three main water sources exist: surface water, groundwater, and recycled wastewater. Irrigation systems run from small on-farm arrangements—using a local water supply—to vast regional schemes that involve thousands of farms and are controlled by governmental authorities. […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 a-case-study-steve-groff A Case Study: Steve Groff Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Steve Groff raises vegetables, grains, and cover crop seeds on his 215-acre farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but his soil shows none of the degradation that can occur with intensive cropping. Mixing cash crops such as corn, alfalfa, soybeans, and tomatoes with cover crops in a unique no-till system, Groff has kept […]