Soil Health & Conservation Strategies. Andrew Barrie OMAFRA Nov 15, 2016

Transcription

1 Soil Health & Conservation Strategies Andrew Barrie OMAFRA Nov 15, 2016

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3 What is Soil?

4 Dirt

5 Traditional Soil Test

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7 Which soil is better! Dorn Cox, 2012 Bianca Moebius-Clune, 2012

8 Standard Soil Test says this soil is better! Dorn Cox, 2012 Bianca Moebius-Clune, 2012

9 What is Soil Health? the soil s fitness to support crop growth without becoming degraded or otherwise harming the environment. from AAFC Health of Our Soils Report

10 Soil Properties PHYSICAL Soil compaction Water infiltration Aggregate stability ORGANIC MATTER CHEMICAL ph Potassium Phosphorus Ca, Zn, Mg, Mn BIOLOGICAL Potentially mineralizable nitrogen % Organic Matter Biological diversity Respiration 10

11 Physical Properties examples PHYSICAL PROPERTY SOIL TEXTURE e.g., sandy loam, silty clay DEFINITION the relative coarseness or fineness of a soil IMPORTANCE TO SOIL HEALTH Affects all Soil Functions mostly crop growth, resilience, aeration and moisture as well as fertility SOIL STRUCTURE e.g. granular, platy how soil particles are arranged and organized in the soil Affects all Soil Functions mostly crop growth, resilience, aeration and moisture SOIL COLOUR richness, intensity, brightness of soil colour Indicates Soil organic matter level, moisture content and aeration

12 Physical Properties Texture vs Structure

13 Chemical Properties examples CHEMICAL PROPERTY SOIL ph DEFINITION A rating indicating the acidity or alkalinity of the soil solution with 7 being neutral and 6 being slightly acid. IMPORTANCE TO SOIL HEALTH Affects several Soil Functions Growth, fertility and contaminant filtration NUTRIENTS Fertility is within the ideal range for crop growth. E.g. P, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Mn Affects several Soil Functions Growth & fertility

14 Chemical Properties Soil ph

15 Chemical Properties Nutrients

16 Biological Properties examples BIOLOGICAL PROPERTY SOIL ORGANIC MATTER DEFINITION The soil component produced by the breakdown of plant and animal residues IMPORTANCE TO SOIL HEALTH Affects all Soil Functions mostly resilience, aeration and moisture as well as fertility and soil life NITRATE LEVELS Nitrate (NO 3- ) is a highly soluble and mobile plant available form of nitrogen in the soil. Affects several Soil Functions Growth, fertility and contaminant filtration EARTHWORMS The presence or evidence of nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris L) in upper soil horizon or on soil surface, Affects several Soil Functions mostly aeration and moisture

17 Soil Organic Matter Targets Sandy Soil Sandy Loams Loam Soils Clay Loams Clay Soils Poor < 1.1 % <1.5 % <2.0% < 2.5 % < 2.5 % Fair % % % % % Good 2.1-3% % % % % Better 3.1 %+ 3.6 %+ 4.1 %+ 4.6 %+ 4.6 %+

18 Biological Properties Earthworms

19 Soil Health vs. Soil Quality Soil quality is the inherent make up of the soil that management can have little influence on i.e. stoniness, depth to bedrock, texture, minerology

20 Benefits of Soil Health 20

21 Key Soil Health BMP s

22 Key Soil Health BMP s No-Till or Reduced Tillage

23 Key Soil Health BMP s

24 Fig. 1. Impact of tillage and rotation on soil organic carbon (SOC) on an equivalent soil mass basis from an 11 yr longterm experiment initiated in 1995 and sampled in 2006 a b Means followed by a different letter indicates a significant difference according to Tukey Kramer (P<0.05). S W C, Soybean winter wheat corn rotation; Conventional tillage was fall moldboard plough with spring cultivation; no till had no soil disturbance except trash whippers on planter. Long term Tillage & Rotation Trial Ridgetown a a a b b c c c d a

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26 Grain Yield (bu/ac) Corn Yields after Wheat +/- Red Clover Ridgetown Ave C S W C S W(rc) C S W C S W(rc) C S W C S W(rc) C S W C S W(rc)

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28 How can you measure Soil Health?

29 Cornell Soil Health Assessment 4 physical parameters 4 chemical parameters 4 biological parameters Score out of 100

30 Physical > Water Stable Aggregates > Water Retention Potential > Surface Hardness > Subsurface Hardness Biological > Organic Matter > Active Carbon > N Mineralization Potential > Root Quality Chemical Cornell > ph > Phosphorus > Potassium > Minor Elements

31 1-day carbon dioxide in ppm Microbial respiration indicator Organic N reserve Solvita Test

32 Inorganic nitrogen (ppm) Inorganic phosphate (ppm) 24 hour carbon dioxide released Extractable carbon Extractable organic carbon Extractable organic nitrogen Organic C:N ratio Soil Health CO 2 /C:N + WEOC/100 + WEON/10 Haney System

33 Laura L. Van Eerd University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus Soil Health Publications Long-term tillage systems + field crop rotation trials Cornell Soil Health Assessment (CSHA) at 4 sites: Congreves et al Soil & Tillage Research 152:17-25 Ontario Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) meta-analysis: Congreves et al Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: SOC, total N, CSHA at Ridgetown: Van Eerd et al Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: SOC, total N influenced by N fertilizer at Ridgetown: Congreves et al Plant and Soil In press Long-term cover crop trial By Dr. Laura L. Van Eerd Active carbon (polysaccharides) at Ridgetown: Ouellette et al Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 80:

34 Laura L. Van Eerd University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus Current Soil Projects By Dr. Laura L. Van Eerd Term Title Role Funding source Principal Investigator Long-term cover crop research: Maintaining and monitoring soil health Usefulness of Haney Soil Health Test in Ontario Principal Investigator OMAFRA-UoG, GFO OTRI & OPVG Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) Assessing soil organic matter quality as an attribute of soil health in long-term tillage and crop rotation experiments Interseeding cover crops options for grain corn and their effects on soil health in Southern Ontario Soil-BOL: Exploring the link between soil biodiversity and soil health PI: A. Diochon Lakehead U Co-PI: LVE PI: M. Sharifi, Trent U Collaborator: LVE Co-PI: K.E. Dunfield + R. Hanner UoG Collaborator: LVE GFO GFO GFO Improved metrics of carbon storage and greenhouse gas emission reduction: Lysimeters PI: C Wagner-Riddle UoG Collaborator: LVE OMAFRA New Directions + many matching

35 Soil Quality Scoring (Ontario Soil Health Project - Cornell Test) Soil Quality (100 points total) % Cover Visual differences fall 2009 No difference in cover rating No CC Oats OSR Peas Rye Vetch

36 Ontario Soil Health Assessment Diagnostic Approach Soil Management BMP

37 1) Soil type & conditions

38 2) Field Conditions

39 3) Past Management

40 Side-by-Side trial same soil, slope, rainfall, current management Poor soil health Good soil health Ross Wilson, Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority 65 bu/ac 201 bu/ac

41 4) Crop Conditions

42 Soil Health Assessment

43 Soil Health Assessment

44 Drivers of Soil Health The heart of the province, rural and agricultural, was undergoing a dramatic transformation. The Ontario Agricultural Commission of 1881 had revealed serious problems in the agricultural sector. Uneven quality of farm produce, exhausted soils, unimproved land and a lack of scientific information were only a few of the problems. The government took several positive steps to redress these problems. Important pieces of legislation were passed, including an act- to establish the Ontario Agricultural College and Experimental Farm (1874), the Ontario Tile Drainage Act (1&78), and creation of the Ontario Veterinarian College (1879).

45 Changing Crop Trends Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture. 45

46 Drivers of Soil Health

47 Drivers of Soil Health 20 small fields 1 field, 1 crop

48 Drivers of Soil Health

49 Drivers of Soil Health

50 Drivers of Soil Health

51 Drivers of Soil Health

52 Soil: Our Eroding Asset (2008/09)

53 OMAFRA - Projects Quantifying soil health Cornell, SOLVITA, others Sub Watershed Soil Health Cover crops Organic amendments Soil inventory and mapping

54 OMAFRA Tech Transfer

55 Soil Management Day - Dorchester

56 OSCIA Field Day - Barrie

57 OMAFRA - Programs

58 OMAFRA - Research New Directions research call BMP Verification and Demonstration program Soil Health Research Forum Nov 28

59 OMAFRA - Partnerships

60 Developing Ontario s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy

61 Linkages Soil, Water, Climate and Land Use Water Water Soil Climate Land Quantity Quality Health Change Use Drought / Floods Access to water Water Protection Phosphorus Water Protection Algal Blooms Domestic Action Plan Soil organic matter Soil structure Fertility Erosion Extreme adverse weather Greenhouse gas emissions Adaptation Climate Change Action Plan Land use planning Provincial Policy Statement Provincial Plan Review Agricultural systems Research Policy Stewardship Productive and Sustainable Agriculture Sector Education 61

62 Need for Shared Vision & Strategy Shared leadership between Government and ag industry in ensuring long-term productivity of soil Shared interest in sustaining the productive capacity of soil 62

63 A Collaborative Approach Working Group Participants Chair Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Members Ontario Federation of Agriculture Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association Conservation Authorities Universities and Research Community Ontario Certified Crop Advisor Association Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario Grain Farmers of Ontario Soil Conservation Council of Canada Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Farm and Food Care Technical Working Group Developed Discussion Document Shared responsibility Build support National Farmers Union 63

64 Soil Strategy Development Process Develop Consensus on Approach & Discussion Document Engagement Strategy Development Seek Input and Finalize Strategy Collaborative working group develops consensus on key issues, priorities and principles for action. Develop Discussion Document for consultation. Engagement on Discussion Document. Seek input on draft vision, goals and objectives. Aug 29-Nov 27 Synthesize comments. Working group refines consensus on key issues, and priorities. Develop consensus on actions needed. Post draft Strategy. Seek input on draft vision, goals, objectives and actions. Seek broad support. Finalize strategy. Develop soil health and conservation strategy document for consultation. Fall Spring 2016 Summer/Fall 2016 Fall / Winter PHASE 1 PHASE 2 64

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66 Draft Vision: Healthy agricultural soils contribute to a productive economy, sustainable environment and thriving society. Soil Management Soil management practices sustain and enhance soil health and productivity for societal, economic and environmental needs. Soil health is sustained and improved to keep farmland productive. Soil erosion from tillage, water and wind is minimized. Soil is conserved to support production of, and access to, food and other products. Soil health is enhanced to improve water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address other environmental issues. Soil Strategy Soil Health and Conservation Strategy Soil Information and mapping Reliable soils information and tools are available to allow for informed decision making and analysis by producers, industry, government and the public. Soil inventory data are well documented, replicable and defensible. Soil information is comprehensive, accessible, flexible and widely available. Accessible soil data provide for a wide range of analysis and decision making. Draft Long term Goals Soil Monitoring & modelling The health and status of Ontario s agricultural soils are tracked over time. Draft Objectives Capacity is developed to track changes in agricultural soil health, erosion and soil organic matter. Soil health and erosion monitoring is used to inform and evaluate policies and programs. Soil Knowledge & Innovation Soil knowledge and skills are optimized to meet societal and economic needs and drive innovation. Sustain human resource capacity in soils knowledge to meet priorities. The education sector supports programs for appropriate soils knowledge and skills. Ongoing research supports innovation in soil knowledge and management. Industry has access to people with soil related knowledge and skills to meet client needs effectively and economically. Producers have access to the knowledge needed to maintain and enhance soil health. 66

67 Funding from Climate Change Action Plan 5-year Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP): 2020/30 GHG emissions targets $ from Cap and Trade $30 million for soil strategy implementation BMPs to reduce soil-related GHG emissions 67

68 Pilot Soil Mapping Areas

69 Cochran Planned LiDAR Acquisition Areas Hearst 69

70 Moving the Bar Forward Information Needs: Tillage impact of tillage rotation Cover crop systems Residue management dealing with healthy corn stalks/high yields Long term tillage and rotation cropping system field and horticultural crops Economics cropping systems Soil health measurements making the connection to yield and economics

71 Attitudinal shift Moving the Bar Forward Big yield Economic/Environmental Yield

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74 Change in Soil Organic Carbon on Cropland