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].
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