Soil Management Site Selection, Soil Fertility Warren Roberts George Kuepper
Where We re Going Soil Texture and Drainage Site Selection Soil Fertility & ph Fertilizers & Nutrients Later Sessions Soil Biology & Micro-Organisms Compost, Cover Crops and Green Manures Organic Farming
Commonly Known Soil Types Sandy, Sandy Loam, Loam Light Soil (Not Really) Clay Heavy Soil (Not Really) Sandy Soils are Actually Heavy Clay Soils are Actually Light
An Acre of Soil Weighs What? Acre furrow slice Top plow layer over one acre Usually 6-7 inches deep Averages about 2 million lbs
Definitions Clay (0.001 0.002 mm) Silt (0.002-0.050 mm) Sand (0.050-2.00 mm) Gravel (>2.00 mm)
Pore Space The portion of the soil volume occupied by air and water Ideally half air and half water Very Important for Plant Growth
Loose Soil
Compacted Soil
Pore Space Macro Pore (Large Spaces) Sands Micro Pore (Small Spaces) Clay
Loose Loam Soil
Compacted Loam Soil
Water Movement in Soil Gravity Primary force in sandy soils (large pores) Capillary Forces, Osmotic (Suction) Primary force in clay soils (small pores)
Aerobic vs Anaerobic
Soil Moisture Saturation All pores filled Can become Anaerobic Field Capacity Drainage has ceased Capillary action holds remaining water Micro-pores may be full
Soil Moisture at 24 inches http://www.mesonet.org/
Ideal Soil Most Desirable Loam Sandy Loam Loamy Sand Sandy Clay Loam Least Desirable Sand Won t hold water Clay Difficult to work
Ideal Soil Well Drained Area Not in a flood plain Not in a low-lying area where water can accumulate Good air drainage Not subject to late spring frosts or early fall frosts Deep Soil Not overlying a rocky base Not overlying a clay base
Ideal Organic Soil Not Contaminated from Previous Years Not Contaminated by Neighbors Not Contaminated by Highways, Power Line Right-of-Ways
Ideal Soil Easy to Access Easy to Irrigate Easy to Control Predators Deer, Raccoons, Feral Hogs, Coyotes, Humans
Ideal Soil Organic Matter
Ideal Soil Noble Foundation
Ideal Soil Noble Foundation
Organic Matter
Organic Matter For Whatever the Reason Holds Water Prevents Excess Drying Improves Drainage Prevents Saturation Keeps Soil Aerobic Prevents Runoff Like a Sponge
Organic Matter For Whatever the Reason Holds Nutrients Prevents Nutrient Loss Prevents Environmental Contamination
Organic Matter For Whatever the Reason Improves Tilth Provides Larger Pore Spaces for Root Growth Allows for AirWater Movement
Organic Matter For Whatever the Reason Wonderful
Ideal Soil 50% Solid Matter 45% Mineral 5% Organic 50% Pore Space 25% Water 25% Air
OM (%) 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0 Before After
Soil Fertility Supplies Nutrients to the Plant for Growth and Development
Soil Fertility Essential Plant Nutrients 16 (18) required for plant growth, development, and reproduction Macronutrients: (large quantities used by the plant) Micronutrients: (small quantities used by the plant )
Soil Fertility Macro Nutrients Primary Secondary Carbon ( C ) Hydrogen ( H ) Oxygen ( O ) Nitrogen ( N ) Phosphorus ( P ) Potassium ( K ) Kalium Calcium (Ca) Magnesium ( Mg) Sulfur (S )
Soil Fertility Micro Iron ( Fe ) Boron ( B ) Copper ( Cu) Chlorine ( Cl ) Manganese ( Mn ) Molybdenum ( Mo) Zinc ( Zn ) Cobalt ( Co ) Nickel ( Ni )
Soil Fertility See Hopkins Cafe. Managed by My Cousin, Colonel Mo Cleaver
Soil Fertility See Hopkins Cafe. Managed by My Cousin, Colonel Mo Cleaver. CHOPKNS Ca Fe Mg Bo Mn Cu Zn Co Mo Cl Ni
ph Definition: Inverse Concentration of Hydrogen Ion Concentration, Expressed in Moles per Liter Practical Definition: Amount of Acid in the Soil ph goes up as H+ concentration goes down VERY Important, but Often Overlooked
Soil ph
ph and Nutrient Availability
Lane Agricultural Center - OSU
Typical Fertilizer 5-10-15 13-13-13 34-0-0 18-46-0 0-0-62 0-46-0
Typical Fertilizer N-P-K (Not Really) Actually N-P2O5-K2O
Next Session Soil Sampling and Soil Testing