Soil Health & the New NRCS Soil Health Division David Lamm, Soil Health Team, Leader NRCS Division of Soil Health

Transcription

1 Soil Health & the New NRCS Soil Health Division David Lamm, Soil Health Team, Leader NRCS Division of Soil Health United States Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2 Growing ag media interest 3,500+ unique articles on the Soil Health effort 100+ article placements in Farm Progress publications alone

3 Soil Health Campaign - Raised awareness - Expanded demand for system adapted information - Raising many good questions

4 Mainstream media

5 What are soils made of? Chemical Physical OM Biological

6 Ideal Soil Composition 25% Water 45% Inorganic (mineral materials) Pore space 50% { } 25% Air 5% Organic Matter Solids 50%

7 Soil Health The continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans Nutrient cycling Water (infiltration & availability) Filtering and Buffering Physical Stability and Support Habitat for Biodiversity Microbes Mitigate 90% of these functions

8 Biomass of organisms pasture above and below ground Organisms Standing crop biomass lbs./ac. Above ground 1200 Dairy Cow 1 or Beef cow Pasture Below ground Pasture roots Bacteria 2052 Actinomycetes 2052 Fungi 6244 Algae 219 Protozoa 80 Nematodes 62 Mites 65 Collembola 65 Earthworms 624 Other fauna 40

9 SOIL IS HABITAT Food Water Shelter Pore Space

10 Drives Nutrient Cycling The Soil Food Web Dr. Nardi

11 Mineralization and Immobilization Organisms consume other organisms and excrete inorganic wastes. Organic nutrients are stored in soil organisms and organic matter. Inorganic nutrients are usable by plants, and are mobile in soil. Organisms take up and retain nutrients as they grow.

12 Controls Non-Beneficial Organisms The Soil Food Web Dr. Nardi

13 Every Trophic Level Must be present Must be able to function for the soil food web to function! Dr. Nardi

14 Major Soil Health Benefits 1. Improve water quality 2. Regulate water and reduce flooding 3. Cycle organic wastes and detoxify noxious chemicals 4. Increase soil carbon and removing CO 2 5. Save Energy

15 Soil Health Benefits (continued) 6. Save water and increasing drought tolerance 7. Reduce disease and pest problems 8. Improve plant health and increase nutrientrich food production 9. Improve wildlife habitat 10. Improve income sustainability

16 Adapting Soil Health Management Principles to soils, regions, and cropping systems requires broad collaboration! Minimize soil disturbance. Maximize diversity (plants, animals, amendments, inoculants ). Keep the soil covered. Maximize living roots.

17 The vision Increase the number of producers operating with Soil Health Systems (at the NRCS criteria level), which Will lead to continental-scale, systematic improvements in water, air, and wildlife, while enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

18 Agricultural soils do not have a water erosion/runoff problem, they have a water infiltration problem.

19 USDA-NRCS Soil Health Division Division Director National Communications & Partnership Liaison National Soil Health Team Leader National Soil Health Specialist Regional Team Leaders (4) Regional Soil Health Specialists (12)

20 Staffing up to represent varied production systems, leverage efforts, address critical issues Ag Production Systems Addressing the Nation s most critical issues through Soil Health Plant Materials Centers Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Soils Critical Conservation Areas Climate ARS & Land Grant Research Partners

21 NRCS Soil Health Division Staff Located in State Offices and National Technology Support Centers L S S S S L S S S L NS S L D S NL S S S D = Director NS = National Soil Health Specialist NL = National Soil Health Team Leader L = Regional Soil Health Team Leader S = Regional Soil Health Specialist

22 Goals of the new NRCS Soil Health Division Soil health training Soil Health Assessment Soil Health Management Planning Leverage Partners Within NRCS and externally (NACD, SARE, TNC, EDF, Soil Renaissance, ARS, NIFA, Hatch, Universities, Nonprofits ) Ensure Scientific Basis Evaluate Economics Quantify Benefits Soil Health Management Systems Implementation Observation, Adaptation

23 Soil Health Training Soil Health 101 Training Complete Most NRCS Field, Area and State Technical staff Many Conservation Partners Advanced Training Conservation Cropping Systems Cover Crop Grazing Systems Soil Health Management Systems Soil Health Field Assessments

24 Soil Health Assessments Lab Analysis Soil Health Nutrient Tool (Haney Test) Cornell Comprehensive Soil Health Assessment Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) Beta-glucosidase???

25 In-field soil assessment what to look at: Utilize all your senses: Sight Smell Touch Taste???? Look at: Residue Soil Surface Soil Profile Plant Roots???

26 What do you see? Healthy or Not?

27 How compressed is your soil? Penetrometer - Measures pressure to penetrate soil Used to identify: Surface crust Tightly packed crumbs Subsoil compacted layers Effects of compaction Poor germination Reduced infiltration Poor root development Poor air exchange From: Cornell Soil Health Manual

28 What s residue tell me about soil health? Residue should be broken down and incorporated into the soil profile in a healthy soil!

29 A Spade Deep, what it tells You Good Soil Tilth Sufficient depth Shredded Residue Signs of life

30 Does your soil smell? Earthy/Sweet Smell Geosmin from Actinomycetes Bacteria Decompose residue Cycle nutrients Important part of soil foodweb Metallic/Kitchen sink cleanser Soil dominated by Anaerobic bacteria Indicate anaerobic conditions Hydrogen Sulfide H2S rotten egg smell, NH3 Ammonia strong urine smell Drives ph low, release AL No soil aroma Little active life in the soil because it is too hot, cold, wet, dry or degraded to have many active soil organisms present at that time. Poor Habitat

31 What do Your Roots Say? Unhealthy Roots Restricted root growth Few fine roots Short thick roots Discolored & Lesions (root pathogens present) Healthy Roots Uninhibited root growth Lots of fine roots White (no root pathogens)

32 Soil Health Planning & Implementation Incorporate Soil Health into: Conservation Practice Standards CPS Job Sheets and Guidance Documents Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) Conservation Financial Assistance EQIP CSP Goal: Soil Health to woven into the very fabric of the Agency

33 Soil Health Management Systems Collection of conservation practices that focus on maintaining or enhancing soil health Utilizes existing NRCS conservation practices Incorporates the 4 soil health planning principles Must be implemented as a system Farming enterprise specific

34 Soil Health Division Goal Restore our Nations Soils Soil Functions Nutrient Cycling Water (infiltration & availability Filtering and Buffering Physical Stability and Support Habitat for Biodiversity Benefits 1. Improve water quality 2. Reduce flooding 3. Increase soil carbon 4. Sequester CO 2 5. Increasing drought tolerance 6. Reduce disease and pest problems 7. Improve plant health 8. Improve wildlife habitat 9. Improve income sustainability