Science of Life Explorations TLC for Soil Taking Care of the Land
Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, The Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes name Student Lesson: TLC for Soils - Farmers and Students Care! Why do soils need to be cared for? Why do soils need to be cared for? What is a steward? Does it matter how a farmer tills the soil, or what he plants? Can farmers improve soil? What is a cover crop and what is crop rotation? This farmer is a _ of the land. Unscramble these letters to fill in the blanks above and complete the sentence: w s a r e t d
name Student Lesson: TLC for Soils - Farmers and Students Care! Be a Steward! Farmers are stewards of the land. Being a STEWARD means taking good care of what you are responsible for. Farmers TILL (plow) their land in ways to reduce erosion. Farmers try not to plant the same crop in the same place year after year. It would deplete nutrients, like nitrogen, in the soil. This practice is called CROP ROTATION. Sometimes farmers add natural minerals to improve soil s consistency and ph balance. Do you know what ph is? It is a way to describe some of the chemistry in soil. Some plants like soil that is sweet and some like it sour. It doesn t have anything to do with taste! Soil ph can be changed by adding sulphur or limestone to soil.
name Student Lesson: TLC for Soils - Farmers and Students Care! Take Care! Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, earthworms) help compost break down. This action is called METABOLIC activity. It can actually creat heat. This heat can actually kill disease organisms and weed seeds. Farmers add good quality compost, which recycles plant and sometimes animal waste materials, and turns them into nature s best plant food. Compost contains high-quality organic matter and beneficial microorganisms. ORGANIC material also increases air and water space in heavy soils. It improves soil texture Cover Crops: Whenever possible, farmers plant cover crops usually LEGUMES like beans and vetch and till them under. These cover crops add nutrients, such as nitrogen, as well as organic matter to the soil. Sometimes they help reduce the amount of weeds in the field.
Word Puzzle Fun! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 O C R O P T C A R D D O R S O G G A N I C E V M A A T T E T E R N K C A L B R B I K C J V R X W C G R E E N F Y S E V A E L H Q name Student Lesson: TLC for Soils - Farmers and Students Care! Read the following paragraphs and search for words in bold type in the puzzle above. When you are done, use the first 16 letters that are left over to find the secret message! Black gold is fun term for compost. Farmers and Students can add compost to soil. It adds organic material, and is a way to recycle nature s products. Compost is best added after it has time to age. Time will help microorganisms break down organic material and kill some disease organisms. Students can make compost from leaves. They add nutrients and minerals when they decompose. Compost also improves soil texture. Farmers can use a cover crop of legumes to add nitrogen to the soil. They call it green manure! They also use crop rotation so that nutrients are not depleted from the soil. It is a good idea to test soil before adding fertilizers. Students, like farmers, take good care of the soil by understanding the science of agriculture. It is important, too! Clues for location of words: Black (Look for a B in column 6) Cover (Look for a C in column 7) Crop (Look for a C in column 2) Green (Look for a G in column 2) Leaves (Look for a L in column 6) Test (Look for a T in column 6) Organic (Look for an O in column 1)
Crop rotation - not always planting the same crop in the same space year after year Legumes - the plant family which includes peas, beans, clover and some trees Metabolic - actions that cause change in form Nitrogen - one of the essential plant nutrients; it is a gas that must be changed into a usable form for plants Organic - relating to living organisms such as plants and animals Stewards - caretakers of something that does not belong to them Till - to plow a field 1. A cover crop is grown to be tilled back into the soil. An example is: a. corn stalks left in the field after harvest b. bean plants grown and tilled under in the late fall c. animal manure spread in late fall d. none of the above 2. Farmers use tilling and planting methods that reduce erosion. Why? a. erosion causes good topsoil to be washed away from the fields b. erosion moves soil from fields into streams c. erosion can carry nutrients, fertilizers and sometimes pesticides where they were not intended to go d. all of the above 3. Mrs. Stanley s class wants to add leaves to their classroom garden. They make good compost because they add nutrients to the soil. What months are best to add leaves? Spring Summer Fall 4. Why do leaves and other organic materials help the soil?
Background for teaching this lesson: New York has rich agricultural history and its farmers understand the value of taking care of the land. Students will use this lesson to learn about stewardship of the land and how farmers protect and improve their soil. If your students will be doing any gardening, this lesson will help them care for their garden soil. Students who will not be doing hands-on gardening can also benefit from this lesson because everyone needs to understand the value of soil to our everyday lives. Healthy soil is a valuable commodity because growing food and fiber for the world is an important job. Healthy soil is a key ingredient to crop success. Soil forms slowly and is destroyed easily. Poor farming practices contributes to erosion and depleted soils. Barren soil contains little organic matter and nutrients. Farmers use various methods to protect soil and improve it. They can: 1. Add organic matter. This is probably the most important way to enhance soil quality. It improves structure, enhances water and nutrient holding capacity and encourages a healthy community of soil organisms. 2. Avoid excessive tillage and soil compaction. Tilling helps to loosen surface soil and control some weeds and pests, but it can also have negative effects on soil structure and increase the threat of erosion. Soil compaction reduces air and water space in soil and occurs when machinery move about on the surface. (Consider the difference in turf growth along a driveway where compaction may occur. You will generally see more weeds in compacted soil, because turfgrass can t compete with weeds in compacted soil.) 3. Manage pests and nutrients efficiently. Pesticides and fertilizers have a role in healthy soils and crops. But, they must be managed properly. Nutrients, such as fertilizers can be pollutants as well as some pesticides, when they get into the water system and promote algae bloom. Pesticides can affect non-target organisms. Farmers test and monitor soil health and pest activity so they do not have to use more than is necessary. 4. Keep the ground covered. Bare soil is susceptible to wind and water erosion. Groundcover protects soil and reduces evaporation. Cover crops also add organic matter and nutrients back into the soil. 5. Increase diversity. Crop rotation and planting a variety of crops contributes various nutrients and soil interactions. This also helps control pest populations. 6. Monitor soil performance. Making detailed observations of soil and crop changes from day-to-day and year-to-year will show how farming practices are working and what might be done to improve crops and soil. (This list was adapted from: http://www.extension.umn.edu)
Page 1 Why do soils need to be cared for? Soils that are not being farmed are part of an ecosystem that keeps them balanced and protected. But soils that are being used for agriculture can be stressed and become depleted when they are not cared for and used properly. Just as we must all be stewards of the earth, farmers use specific practices to protect soil and keep it healthy. Page 2 Students have had the opportunity to complete lessons about erosion and about ph. Here is a review of ph for you: Sometimes farmers add natural minerals to improve soil s consistency and ph balance. For example, if they need to lower the ph (make more acid or sour ) they may add natural, mined sulphur. To raise the ph (make more basic or sweet ) they we may add powdered limestone. Page 3 Microorganisms - Bacteria, fungi, earthworms, nematodes, and tiny insects are at work by the thousands in each shovel of soil. Cover Crops A farmer might put in a corn crop in the spring, harvest it in late summer and then plant a forage crop to harvest in late fall. Cover Crops are also called green manure. They also reduce erosion and compaction when the field is not in use. Peas and Beans and some forage crops are legumes. They are nitrogen producers. Pest susceptible plants should not be planted in the same place year after year. Page 4 What is a Steward? Someone who takes care of something that does not belong to him/her. What is crop rotation? Crop rotation means not planting the same crop year after year in the same spot. Pros and Cons of using animal manures? Cons- odor, residue on roadways. Pros- good for soil and a good use of a free supply of soil nutrients.
Student Lesson: TLC for Soils - Farmers and Students Care! Vocabulary and Review Crop rotation - not always planting the same crop in the same space year after year Legumes - the plant family which includes peas, beans, clover and some trees (pronounced lay gooms ) Metabolic - actions that cause change in form Nitrogen - one of the essential plant nutrients; it is a gas that must be changed into a usable form for plants Organic - relating to living organisms such as plants and animals Stewards - caretakers of something that does not belong to them Till - to plow a field 1. A cover crop is grown to be tilled back into the soil. An example is: a. corn stalks left in the field after harvest X b. bean plants grown and tilled under in the late fall c. animal manure spread in late fall d. none of the above 2. Farmers use tilling and planting methods that reduce erosion. Why? a. erosion causes good topsoil to be washed away from the fields b. erosion moves soil from fields into streams c. erosion can carry nutrients, fertilizers and sometimes pesticides where they were not intended to go X d. all of the above 3. Mrs. Stanley s class wants to add leaves to their classroom garden. They make good compost because they add nutrients to the soil. What months are best to add leaves? Spring Summer X Fall 4. Why do leaves and other organic materials help the soil? they put nutrients back into the soil