Soil Health: Resource Concerns and Conservation Planning David A. Lamm National Soil Health Team Leader Greensboro, NC
NRCS Soil Health Division 2
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
Soil Health Training 250 Training Events 26,016 Participants
Soil Health Conservation Planner Certification Training 1. Soil Health Basics 2. Linking Soil Biology to Soil Health 3. Soil Health Planning Principles 4. Regenerating Soil Health and Planning for a Soil Health Management System 5. Rethinking the Management Paradigm 6. Farm visits/soil Health Assessments 7. Implementing a Soil Health Management System 8. Cover Crop Management 9. Grazing Management to Improve Soil Health 10. Economics of Soil Health 11. Overcoming Barriers to Adoption
What is Soil Health? SOIL HEALTH: The continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. 6
Soil Functions Necessary for Food & Fiber Nutrient cycling Water (infiltration & availability) Filtering and Buffering Physical Stability and Support Habitat for Biodiversity
Erosion Primary Resource Concern
Western Lake Erie Basin Soils Dysfunctional Soils with no erosion problem Flat, poorly drained, compacted, losing organic matter
Western Lake Erie Basin Soils Same rain event on May 15 ¾ less than 1/8 mile apart Long-term No-Till soybeans then Strip Till Corn Rotational Tillage: No Till Soybeans then Tilled corn 10
Toledo Harbor Algae Problem
Impact of Poor Soil Function Poor Water Cycle Decrease infiltration Increase runoff Acceptance of these conditions as normal Poor Nutrient Cycling Excessive nutrient runoff Increase use of limited materials Focus on managing materials rather than solving problem Graphs prepared by David Baker, Heidelberg University
Applying Existing Soil Quality Concerns Flat, poorly drained No erosion problem Poor soil structure Weak aggregates Low infiltration Increase runoff Poor habitat for soil microbial community Poor soil functions 13
NRCS Soil Resource Concerns* Compaction Organic matter depletion Soil organism habitat loss or degradation Aggregate instability 14
NRCS Resource Definitions Resource Concern: An expected degradation of the soil, water, air, plant, or animal resource base to the extent that the sustainability or intended use of the resource is impaired. Planning Criteria (PC): Used to determine whether or not there is a resource concern associated with a specified land use.
Resource Concern Resource Concern Compaction Description Objective Land Use Management induced soil compaction at any level throughout the soil profile resulting in reduced: rooting depth and structure plant growth soil biological activity water infiltration and water holding capacity aeration soil habitat Reduce compaction Crop Forest Associated Ag Land Designated Protected Area Other Rural Land 16
Resource Concern Resource Concern Description Objective Land Use Organic Matter Depletion Management induced depletion of soil organic matter pools, (e.g. labile carbon, total soil carbon or nitrogen) resulting in subsidence or limited soil function and processes that support: plant growth habitat and food for soil organisms water and nutrient cycling Reduce organic matter depletion and/or increase soil organic matter Crop Associated Ag Land 17
Resource Concern Resource Concern Aggregate Instability Description Objective Land Use Management induced degradation of water stable soil aggregates resulting in: reduced water infiltration, water holding capacity, aeration depressed resilience to extreme weather, increased ponding, flooding, increased soil erosion, plant stress, reduced habitat and soil biological activity: microbes, plants and animals Improve aggregate stability Crop Associated Ag Land 18
Resource Concern Resource Concern Description Objective Land Use Soil organism habitat loss or degradation Quantity, quality, diversity or connectivity of food, cover, space, shelter and/or water is inadequate to meet requirements of soil organisms and other beneficials Improve habitat for soil organisms and other beneficials Crop Pasture Associated Ag Land Designated Protected Area Other Rural Land 19
In Field Soil Health Assessment Simple Goal To develop a process that could be used on-site to help determine relative soil function (health). A tool that could be used to document a soil health related resource concern is present Can be used within the confines of conservation planners: Time (both amount and season of the year) Conservation Planners Knowledge
Our self-imposed requirements for the protocol Useful provides valuable, accurate, meaningful information Usable easily employed and interpreted by planners and farmers Works for our systems Minimizes subjective effects Quick No meters, chemicals, paper strips, etc. (essentially physical and biological) Representative but reasonable sampling Human sensory-driven Encourages a conversation between the planner and the grower
In Field Soil Health Assessment Residue Cover Surface Crusting Residue Breakdown Roots & Pores Aggregate Stability Biological Activity Compaction Soil Color
In-Field Assessment Indicator Those soil or plant characteristics that can be evaluated to gage the health of the soil Residue Cover Description A description of what the indicator is and/or how it impacts soil health. Residue cover is the percent of the soil surface that is covered by plant residue, organic mulch and/or live plant. Lack of residue cover exposes the soil to erosion and detachment of soil particles from rain and reduces the food source for soil microbes. The C:N ratio and amount of residue will impact how long it will last before breakdown. Resource Concern Addressed The Soil Health Resource Concerns that are assessed by using this indicator Primary Resource Concern 1. Aggregate Instability 2. Soil organism habitat loss or degradation 3. Soil Organic Matter depletion Secondary Resource Concern 1. Compaction 23
In-Field Assessment In Field Measurement Method Rating Criteria Assessment is based on the amount of the soil surface covered by living plants or the residue of previous crops 1. Farmer interview of management system a. Document tillage system, crop rotation, high biomass crops 2. Use Photo comparison method or state approved estimation methods OR 1. Use line transect as described in https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/internet/fse_do CUMENTS/nrcs142p2_022074.pdf High Year round surface cover from plants, plant residue or mulch; cover 50% to 100% after planting Medium Year round surface cover plants, plant residue or mulch; cover 30% to 50% after planting Low Year round surface cover plants, plant residue or mulch; cover < 30%fter planting
Table 1. Draft In Field Soil Health Card Residue Cover Indicator Residue Breakdown (assumes no tillage to incorporate) Will need to be adjusted for crop and environment. Surface Crusting (influenced by texture) Soil Structure & Compaction (influenced by texture) Water-stable Aggregates (influenced by texture) In Field Qualitative Soil Health Assessment for Conservation Planning Conditions Relatively Healthy Relatively Unhealthy Less than 25% of the soil surface is covered Greater than 75% of the soil surface by plant residue after crop harvest or covered by plant residue after crop harvest termination. Tillage may or may not be or termination. No tillage to incorporate. used. Some cover crop residue remains at the end of the cash crop season. OR Previous crop residue is still visible at the end of the current crop season. No crust visible. Penetration resistance the same as nontrafficked area. Structure is granular in the surface, and blocky or granular in the subsurface. Golf ball-sized clod remains intact after being submerged in water for 5 minutes. Center of the clod is wet after emergence. Plant residue visible after 12 months. OR All residue of moderate to high biomass crop broken down within 2 months. Crusts visible in >50% of the field. Average thickness >0.5 cm. Obvious penetration resistance anywhere in the surface 12. Visible platy or sometimes massive structure anywhere in the surface 12. Golf ball-sized clod disintegrates by >25% after being submerged in water for 5 minutes. Roots & Pores Biological Activity Soil Color Many tubular pores. Roots are white, and remain covered with soil after shaking the intact plant. Minimal horizontal root growth resulting from a restrictive layer. Earthworms and earthworm activity is apparent throughout the surface layer. Macro-invertebrates and fungi observable. Surface soil is obviously darker than subsoil. Surface soil color is similar to a nearby healthy reference site of the same soil type. Few to no pores visible. Roots are yellow and/or stunted. Root growth restricted to the surface soil. Soil does not cling to root surface when intact plants are shaken. No earthworms or evidence of earthworm activity, (casts, burrows). No sign of invertebrates or fungal hyphae. Soil color similar throughout the surface 12. Surface soil color is lighter than a nearby reference site of the same soil type.
Soil Health Principles To Support High Functioning Soils Feed diverse, continuous inputs (C sources, energy, nutrients) Maximize living roots Minimize disturbance Protect habitat (aggregates, structure, water, air, temperature) Maximize diversity Maximize cover NRCS Soil Health Message to producers: Care for your belowground livestock as you would your aboveground livestock
NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 161 different practice standards 97 CED has lead 21 ESD Agronomist has lead 13 Erosion primary resource concern 4 Residue Management 9 ESD Grazing Specialist has lead Limited number of practices to choose from Soil Health requires more than controlling erosion
Core Soil Health Conservation Practices Cover Crop (340) No Till (329) Conservation Crop Rotation (328) Must Do!!!
Synergistic Practices Practice that increase soil health enhancement when applied in conjunction with a core practice Nutrient Management (590) Pest Management (595)
As Applicable Practices that address resource concerns that may not occur on all fields Site specific Irrigation water management Buffer practices
Best Accepted New Technology Conservation activities that might not be in an NRCS conservation practice standard Improve soil health Controlled traffic pattern Precision application of nutrients and pesticides Use of floatation tires
Adapted Nutrient Management Quality No-Till Prescribed Cover Crops New Technology We and can package a system of practices that Improve Soil Health! Integrated Weed & Pest Management Diverse Crop Rotation
Where are some of the best soils in the United States? How did nature make all that prairie soil in the first place? Intense grazing Long Rest periods Managing the Hoof and Mouth of the cow
Questions and Discussion? Contacts: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/soils/health/?cid=nrcseprd1315420
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