Fungi assist plants in absorbing water and nutrients. Research conducted at Rodale Institute has shown that organic systems increase soil organic matter and soil health over time.

To determine if soil is healthy, farmers and scientists measure several factors. How many microorganisms are present? How many nutrients—nitrogen, for example—are in the soil? How well does the soil retain water during drought?

How much carbon can the soil sequester from the atmosphere? At Rodale Institute, our scientists collect soil samples in the field. Back in the lab, they dry and weigh the samples before analysis.

Our research has shown that while conventional systems erode and deplete soils, organic systems improve and build the soil over time. Healthy soil contains aggregates that help it bind together, preventing erosion and run-off.

It can hold more water , so plants fare better in drought. It contains more bacteria and fungi that help plants fight diseases and pests. Breadcrumb Home Conservation Basics Natural Resource Concerns Soil Soil Health. On This Page How to Get Assistance Related News and Events. What is Soil Health?

Soil does all this by performing five essential functions: Regulating water Soil helps control where rain, snowmelt, and irrigation water goes. Water flows over the land or into and through the soil. Sustaining plant and animal life The diversity and productivity of living things depends on soil.

Filtering and buffering potential pollutants The minerals and microbes in soil are responsible for filtering, buffering, degrading, immobilizing, and detoxifying organic and inorganic materials, including industrial and municipal by-products and atmospheric deposits.

Cycling nutrients Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and many other nutrients are stored, transformed, and cycled in the soil. Providing physical stability and support Soil structure provides a medium for plant roots. Soils also provide support for human structures and protection for archeological treasures.

Soil Health Pages. Soil Health Assessment Soil health is an assessment of how well soil performs all of its functions now and how those functions are being preserved for future use.

Learn More. Soil Health Management Maximizing soil health is essential to maximizing profitability. Soil Health Education and Outreach Lesson plans, educator guides, soil quality test kits, soil health posters, and other educational resources about soil health.

Additional Information. Soil Health Literature Literature compiled from peer-reviewed papers relating to the impact of conservation practices on soil properties important for soil health.

How to Get Assistance Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease? Print this information. Step 1: Make a Plan To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.

To meet other eligibility certifications. Step 4: Rank your application NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants.

Find Your Local Service Center USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs.

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Select your county. Related News and Events. Minnesota Farmer Sees Present and Future Benefits to Improving Soil Health February 08,

Immediately after planting and during the first stages, irrigation is a crucial farm practice. By following these practices, farmers can adjust the water needs according to the crop requirements. As a person involved in the food production process, a farmer needs to understand soil requirements and follow agronomic best practices before planting.

In addition to these five main practices, Agrivi software can also help farmers to get the best out of their fields. With AGRIVI Farm Management Software , farmers can plan their crop rotation, keep soil analysis records, and perform crop management, including tillage, fertilization, pest protection, and irrigation.

The software also guides you on how to prepare the soil for planting by giving you best practice processes in the form of tasks for over 80 different crops, for all types of production. To prepare your soil for planting, use these five practices together with AGRIVI software.

Contact us to learn more about how AGRIVI helps optimize your farm operations. In a few minutes, please check your email inbox where we have sent you a copy of the ebook. In a few minutes, please check your email inbox where we have sent you a copy of the report. In a few minutes, please check your email inbox where we have sent a link to the webinar.

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Six Soil Management Practices Guaranteed to Produce Best Yields. Home Blog Agronomy Six Soil Management Practices Guaranteed to Produce Best Yields.

By Ines Hajdu Agronomy, Blog Comments are Closed 15 September, 0. Table of Contents. Nutrient management has long been the basis for good crop production, but more focus on sustainability and resiliency of farming systems and the overall soil ecosystem has led to interest in soil health.

While measurement of soil health can be difficult due to natural disparities among different soil series and other factors, there is a clear consensus on principles and practices that can build and maintain soil health.

Reduced tillage, cover crops, residue cover, and crop and livestock diversification and rotation are practices that show promising benefits in keeping the soil healthy.

Farmers following these four core soil health principles are increasing carbon sequestration, improving soil structure, reducing runoff, preventing soil erosion, and providing food and habitat to beneficial soil microbes.

Practicing soil health-building BMPs helps with adaptation to a changing climate and adds resilience to these farming systems.

Brevik, E. Janzen, H. Janzen, and E. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Agriculture Natural Resourc- es Conservation Service. Virginia Cooperative Extension materials are available for public use, reprint, or citation without further permission, provided the use includes credit to the author and to Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, and Virginia State University.

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, sex including pregnancy , gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Building Healthy Soil with Best Management Practices. ID SPESP. Authors as Published Authored by Sapana Pokhrel, Graduate Student, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech; Rory O. Soil Health Soil health is a phrase that has become popular among soil scientists, farmers, policymakers, and others.

Core Principles and Agricultural Best Management Practices for Building Soil Health Every farmer knows that maintaining the soil is crucial to sustaining their operations over the long term because soil provides plants with nutrients and water. Keep soil covered.

Maximize living roots. Energize through diversity. These core principles are associated with these main BMPs: Reduced tillage. Residue cover. Cover cropping. Crop and livestock diversity and integration.

Reduced Tillage Reduced tillage, also called conservation tillage , refers to a range of tillage practices that cause less disturbance to the soil than conventional tillage, which uses moldboard plows. Residue Cover Leaving plant residue on the soil surface has benefits such as preventing soil erosion.

The external hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi also improve soil aggregation by exuding a gluelike compound called glomalin. Glomalin helps soil particles stick together in aggregates that resist erosion and maintain soil porosity. Mycorrhizal symbioses increase a plant's stress tolerance.

The network of fungal hyphae around the roots can block infection of the plant roots by plant pathogens. Mycorrhizal fungi can also suppress plant pathogens by enhancing plant nutrition, increasing root toughness, changing the chemical composition of the plant tissues, alleviating abiotic stress, and changing the microbial community on roots.

Several factors affect the populations of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil. Tillage disrupts the network of delicate fungal strands, reducing populations.

High levels of phosphorus in the soil also suppress mycorrhizal populations because plants are less likely to support the symbiosis. Finally, because mycorrhizal fungi are dependent on a host plant for an energy source, long periods without a host, such as occurs in bare fallow fields or when a nonhost crop is grown in the rotation, will cause populations to decline over time.

Most native soils have ample populations of living mycorrhizal fungi or dormant spores that will awaken when a host crop is grown.

Inoculation of field soil with mycorrhizal fungi is therefore usually unnecessary. The hyphae of mycorrhizal fungi are seen as dark blue, threadlike structures in the photo above. In the background is a corn root colonized by mycorrhizal fungi. Plants require both oxygen and water in the root zone for optimum growth.

In soil, water and air are held in the pore space between soil particles and soil aggregates. The sizes of the pores that occur between and within soil aggregates determine how water and gases move in and are held by the soil. Larger pores, known as macropores, are important to promote good aeration and rapid infiltration of rainfall.

Smaller pores, known as micropores, are important for absorbing and holding water. Macropores are often visible to the naked eye, while micropores between and within microaggregates are not.

To maintain both adequate aeration and water supply for optimum plant growth, it is necessary to have both macro- and micropores in the soil. Soil on the left easily crumbles upon handling, revealing well-formed macroaggregates and the macropores between the aggregates.

Soil on the right is cloddy, with only a few macropores where the soil has been ruptured. Soil on the right is from an intensively tilled field, whereas soil on the left is from the grass sod adjacent to the same field. Pores in the soil are formed when soil particles clump together into a hierarchy of aggregates.

Soil organisms play an important role in developing soil aggregates and improving aggregate stability. Aggregate stability refers to the ability of soil aggregates to hold together against the erosive forces of water.

Good aggregate stability will help maintain macropores in the soil, reduce surface crusting, promote aeration and reduce rainfall runoff, and reduce soil erosion.

Aggregates also help conserve soil organic matter, as particles of organic matter that reside within aggregates are physically protected against microbial consumption.

Many large soil organisms are capable of moving soil and creating macropores in the soil. These include such organisms as ants, dung beetles, and earthworms. Earthworms are probably the best-known soil organism that contributes to the development and maintenance of soil structure.

The burrowing activity of earthworms benefits soil health through increased nutrient availability, better drainage, and a more stable soil structure. Earthworm burrows seen from the soil surface left and in the subsoil right. Burrows create macropores at the soil surface and in the subsoil, enhancing water infiltration, drainage, and root growth into the subsoil.

Earthworm casts, as seen at the surface surrounding the burrow on the left and filling an abandoned burrow on the right, are nutrient rich and glue soil into water-stable aggregates. Note the roots growing in the abandoned burrow in the photo on the right.

Soil organic matter plays an important role in integrating many aspects of soil health. Soil organic matter can be divided into labile and stable pools, each of which has different characteristics and functions in the soil.

In agricultural soils, organic matter can range from 1 to 8 percent depending on climate, soil type, and soil management practices.

The labile pool of organic matter, which accounts for 5—20 percent of the total pool of soil organic matter, includes the living biomass of soil organisms and plant roots, fine particles of organic detritus, and relatively simple organic compounds such as polysaccharides, organic acids, and other compounds that are synthesized by microbial activity or are by-products of decomposition processes.

Labile organic matter is readily decomposed by microbes and is the principal energy source that fuels the soil food web. It is the principal reservoir of organic nitrogen that can be readily mineralized and made available for plant use.

Polysaccharides in labile organic matter also enhance aggregate stability. When microbial consumption of labile organic matter is greater than the input of fresh organic matter into the soil, labile organic matter levels will decline.

Excessive tillage of the soil can speed the decline of labile organic matter by oxygenating the soil, which increases microbial activity, and by exposing organic matter that had been protected within soil aggregates.

The stable pool of organic matter, which accounts for 60—95 percent of the total pool of soil organic matter, consists of organic compounds that are relatively resistant to decomposition because of either their chemical structure, their adsorption to clay particles, or their protection within microaggregates.

Stable organic matter contributes cation exchange capacity and water-holding capacity to soil. The pool of stable organic matter is increased or depleted slowly as only a small portion of the labile organic matter that cycles through the food web is stabilized into forms that are resistant to decomposition.

The quantity of organic matter in a given soil is the result of a balance between organic matter inputs, such as crop residues, manure, and compost, and the rate of organic matter decomposition. Organic matter inputs can be influenced by crop management, such as the use of cover crops, crop rotations, and residue management, as well as soil management, such as using organic forms of nutrients like compost and manure.

The quantity of labile organic matter generally responds to changes in management practices more quickly than the quantity of stable soil organic matter, so changes in labile organic matter levels can serve as a leading indicator of long-term trends in total organic matter levels.

Excessive tillage is harmful to soil health in a number of ways. Tillage increases oxygen in the soil, stimulating microbial activity, and results in the decomposition of organic matter.

Tillage also disrupts soil aggregates, exposing particles of organic matter that had been physically protected within aggregates to microbial consumption.

If additions of organic matter are not sufficient to counteract the losses from decomposition, organic matter levels will decline over time, reducing soil health. Inversion tillage also reduces the soil coverage provided by crop residues, leaving soil more exposed to erosion. Tillage with a moldboard plow left side of the photo inverts the soil, burying weeds, sod, and surface residue.

Chisel plowing right side of the photo loosens the soil without inversion, retaining residue on the soil surface. Tillage can also disrupt the hyphal network of mycorrhizal fungi, which can lead to their decline over time.

When not managed carefully, most inversion and noninversion tillage methods compact the subsoil, creating a plow pan, which restricts root growth and access to water and nutrients in the subsoil.

Excessive wheel and foot traffic can compact the surface soil, reducing macroporosity and impeding root growth. Soil compaction occurs when soil is exposed to excessive foot and equipment traffic while the soil is wet and plastic.

This traffic compresses the soil, reducing pore space and increasing bulk density. Macropores are compressed more so than micropores, leading to poor water infiltration and drainage and increased runoff.

Soil compaction increases soil hardness, making it more difficult for plant roots to grow through the soil. The reduction in pore space also affects habitat for many soil organisms that are very small, cannot move soil particles, and are restricted to existing pore space and channels in the soil.

Physical disturbances such as inversion tillage can also have profound effects on the biological properties of soil. Compaction and removal of surface residue may contribute to reduction in soil moisture and living space for soil-dwelling organisms.

Diversity and abundance of arthropod predators associated with the soil surface can be greater under conservation tillage management in comparison to conventional inversion tillage, and natural control of pest insects in soil may be enhanced in conservation tillage systems.

Beneficial insects associated with the soil are more likely to survive in fields where noninversion e. In comparison with inversion tillage practices e. Some tillage is still a necessary practice in certain production systems, especially organic systems that do not use herbicides for weed control.

When tillage is used, it is important to offset the increased rate of organic matter decomposition with increased inputs of organic matter through crop residues, manure, and compost.

Integrating several years of a perennial forage crop into a rotation with annual crops that require tillage is one way to reduce tillage intensity over time.

To maintain or increase soil organic matter levels, inputs of organic matter must meet or exceed the losses of organic matter due to decomposition. Healthy crops can be a valuable source of organic matter, and crop residues should be returned to the soil to the extent possible.

Incorporation of cover crops or perennial crops and judicious additions of animal and green manure and compost can also be used to increase or maintain soil organic matter.

Soil organic matter content can be monitored over time if you request an organic matter analysis when submitting soil fertility samples to your soil testing laboratory.

Be sure that your organic matter comparisons over time are based on data from the same lab or from labs that use the same procedure for organic matter analysis, as results can differ significantly between analysis methods.

Cover crops contribute numerous benefits to soil health. They keep the soil covered during the winter and other periods of time when crops are not growing, reducing the risk of erosion.

The biomass produced by cover crops is usually returned to the soil, enhancing organic matter levels. Cover crops with taproots can create macropores and alleviate compaction. Fibrous-rooted cover crops can promote aggregation and stabilize the soil.

Species of cover crops that host mycorrhizal fungi can sustain and increase the population of these beneficial fungi. Legume cover crops can add nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation.

Research conducted at Rodale Institute has shown that organic systems increase soil organic matter and soil health over time. To determine if soil is healthy, farmers and scientists measure several factors. How many microorganisms are present? How many nutrients—nitrogen, for example—are in the soil?

How well does the soil retain water during drought? How much carbon can the soil sequester from the atmosphere? At Rodale Institute, our scientists collect soil samples in the field. Back in the lab, they dry and weigh the samples before analysis. Our research has shown that while conventional systems erode and deplete soils, organic systems improve and build the soil over time.

Healthy soil contains aggregates that help it bind together, preventing erosion and run-off. It can hold more water , so plants fare better in drought. It contains more bacteria and fungi that help plants fight diseases and pests.

And healthy soil also contains more minerals and nutrients that feed plants. By capturing greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and storing them underground, through the assistance of living plants and microbes, we improve both the atmosphere and the soil.

CDFA Home California's Healthy Soils Initiative California's Healthy Soils Initiative California's Healthy Soils Initiative is a collaboration of state agencies and departments, led by the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to promote the development of healthy soils.

Healthy Soils Partnership Workshops The California Department of Food and Agriculture CDFA and California Air Resources Board are announcing a series of stakeholder workshops on the development of a framework for public-private partnerships to invest in scaling up healthy soils practices.

More information. Local Resources. Healthy Soils Program HSP Natural Resource Conservation Service NRCS NRCS Steps to Soil Health Resource Conservation Districts. Follow Us. CDFAClimateNews on Twitter. OEFI Tweets. The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service USDA NRCS provides financial as well as technical assistance for development and implementation of conservation plans through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQIP.

February 14, Soil health management systems are agricultural systems that prioritize the health of soils, by reducing soil disturbance and keeping living roots in the ground. Healthy soils should protect soil carbon and nutrients, capture and store water, and promote soil organisms.

For example, farmers can leave crop residues instead of tilling. The residue acts as a shield, protecting the soil from wind and water and reducing soil evaporation rates to keep moisture available for plant use.

Ground cover reduces runoff, and nutrient loss, an economic savings to farmers. Residue and living plants provide habitat for beneficial microorganisms, which, along with bacteria and fungi, are responsible for organic nutrient cycling. The second soil health principle is minimizing soil disturbance.

Soil disturbance could be biological e. Minimizing soil disturbance allows natural soil structure to develop, with large pores to infiltrate rainwater and small pores to hold water during dry spells. Maintain residue cover as long as possible — residue cover controls erosion while protecting soil aggregates that are so important for water infiltration.

Cover also keeps the soil cool during the heat of the summer. This reduces evaporation while creating a favorable habitat. These include: Conservation Tillage — preferably no-till, but some crops require tillage to harvest, limiting the depth and area tillage is done can be useful Cover Crops — can be used to add diversity to a crop rotation with one or two commodity crops, e.

corn-soybean, cotton-cotton-peanuts. They need to be selected with a purpose, a cover crop should benefit the crop that will follow it. Cover crops should be planted as a mix, multi-species mixes promote more diversity. Conservation crop rotation — rotation need to move away from monocultures or continuous commodity production, e.

continuous corn or cotton Nutrient management — a nutrient management plan should be developed that considers the biological nutrient cycles occurring in the soil Pest management — pest management strategies need to consider beneficial organisms and how they will be affected The science has proven that a well-executed soil health management system is key to a more sustainable future for agriculture and the planet.

The benefits are numerous and the on-farm economics in the long-term make it a viable practice to pursue: Soil health systems build in resiliency against extreme weather events and droughts, reducing soil erosion and nutrient run-off in flooding and maintaining soil water during extended dry spells.

This resiliency smooths out volatility with yields, allowing for more consistent and predictable results. Input costs such as irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides are reduced through the adoption of soil health practices that can positively impact margins and therefore profits.

Sequestering more organic carbon in the soil means that crops and the soil biome can thrive. The plants, in turn, feed the soil organisms with their remains. Highly decomposed plant material is called humus, a stable and important source of plant nutrients great for growing plants.

Plant roots and microbes need access to varying amounts of air and water for optimum growth. Fortunately, soil is full of microenvironments—tiny habitats that differ in the amount of available air, water and nutrients.

Soil compaction and disturbance such as excessive tillage can eliminate these important microenvironments. This makes it hard for plant roots to penetrate the soil, absorb water and nutrients, and interact with beneficial microbes.

Disturbing soil also disturbs weed seeds, exposing them to light and increasing germination—in other words, more weeds! The top few inches of soil contain an abundance of microorganisms, organic matter and soil nutrients. Mulch or cover crops can be used to protect valuable topsoil from erosion and to add rich organic matter as they decompose.

While most microbes are beneficial to plants, disease-causing microbes may overwinter in soil and plant litter. These pathogens prefer to infest and feed on certain plants. Planting the same crop in the same soil year after year can increase diseases.

Crop rotation is usually based on plant families.