Garden & Greenhouse May 2019 Issue | Page 37

compaction, and decreases the loss of organic mat- ter. Reduction in tillage also decreases the potential for destroying soil structure. Soil compaction can be caused by using heavy equipment on the surface when the soil is wet. Compaction will reduce the amount of air, water and pore space for growth of both soil microbes and plant roots. Soil compaction can be reduced by minimizing equipment use when the ground is wet and combining multiple farm tasks, such as applying both herbicides and fertilizer in one trip. Growing cover crops and leaving residue from previous crops is the best way to reduce soil erosion by wind and water. Ground cover can be increased by growing perennial crops such as grasses in a pasture situation. Ground cover will improve water availabil- ity, but care should be taken to manage it properly to prevent disease outbreak. Soil quality also relies on microbial organisms. Diversity in soil microbes may be helpful in controlling pest populations, diseases and weeds. Biodiversity can be achieved by increasing long-term crop rotations, since each plant in rotation contributes to unique soil structure and plant residue. Understanding how to improve soil quality is aided by knowledge of the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio for managing cover crops and nutrient cycling. The C:N ratio is the amount of carbon to the amount of nitrogen in a residue or other organic material ap- T A I L O R E D plied to soil. If material with a higher C:N ratio resi- due is applied, it takes longer to decompose and may immobilize inorganic fertilizers that are applied. This problem can be reduced by growing a low C:N ratio crop (e.g., vetch or other legumes) in rotation with a high C:N ratio crop (e.g., wheat straw). Finally, efficient nutrient management is impor- tant in maintaining soil quality. Test your soils regu- larly and make sure that you store all your records. Examining records over time will tell whether the management practices that were followed increased or depleted soil nutrients. Too much fertilizer or manure may cause groundwater contamination or may run off and enter water bodies and degrade water quality. Ap- plication of nutrients based on a soil test will alleviate this problem. What works on one farm may not work on an- other. Adjust your management plan by observing changes in soil quality on your farm. Wise manage- ment decisions will improve the overall quality of the soil. Being proactive, rather than reactive, will make you a better steward of this limited resource. GG Bill Baugh is a product manager for Custom Biologicals, Inc. a manufacturer and distributor of innovative microbial products. You can visit their website at Living-Soils.com and he can be contacted at 561.797.3008 or [email protected]. S PECTRUM Commercial Grow Luminaire Spectrally tailored for full-cycle growth Healthy, leafy biomass; Tight internode spacing Propagation through flower Successfully operating in 3 countries © 2018 Venture Lighting International, Inc. May 2019 Robust design: 1,550 µmol; Wet Rated; 50,000+ hour life SunmasterGrowLamps.com www.GardenandGreenhouse.net 37