Introductionto Soil HealthModule 1

Kristin BrennanMN NRCSState Soil Health Specialist

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Polling Question

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

What does SOIL HEALTH mean to you?

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How does NRCS Define Soil Health?The continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animal and humans.

Randy Mayers

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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What is Soil Quality?

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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- Gregorich and Carter, 1997

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Polling Question

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

What are desirable functions of agricultural soils?

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Anchor plant roots Produce food, feed, fiber, biofuels, and

medicine Capture, filter, store water and make it

available to plant roots Provide air to plant roots Cycle and furnish nutrients for plant

growth

Protect plants from pathogens and stress Detoxify pollutants Store and cycle Carbon Moderate release of gases Release water with low levels of nutrients Resist erosive forces Be resilient to drought, flood, and

temperature extremes

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Soil with low resistance and high

resilience

Soil Health and Function

100

Time

Soil

func

tion

(% o

f cap

acity

)

Disturbance

Adapted from Brady & Weil, 2008

Soil with low resistance and low

resilience

Soil with high resistance

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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Management impacts function

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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↓Crop Yields↑Hunger↑Malnutrition

Ponding ↑H2O Storage ↓

↓ Nutrient Availability↑ Disease

More SOM ↓Nutrients ↔

Topsoil ↔

↓ Infiltration↑ Erosion

AggregatesBreak ↓

↑ Crusting↑ Surface Compaction

Downward Spiral of Soil Degradation

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

↑ Tillage↓ Residue↓ Diversity

SOM ↓ Erosion ↑

Compaction ↑

Adapted from Building Soils for Better Crops, 3rd ed.

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Characteristics of Loss of Soil Function

Photo credits: Case International; all others USDA

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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Texas SNIRT in our MN Snow!

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

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Hargrove and Luxmore (1988)

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Credit: Jimmy Emmons, Oklahoma

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Three weeks later. . .

Credit: Jimmy Emmons, Oklahoma

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Credit: Derek Axten, Axten Farms, Saskatchewan

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Build Your Soil Health Knowledge!

• NRCS – Unlock the Secrets of the Soil• https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/

• ‘TheUSDANRCS’ channel on YouTube• Science of Soil Health, Hope in Healthy Soil, Unlock the Secrets in the Soil• https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUSDANRCS

• University of Minnesota – Soil Health Website• http://www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture/soils/

• Upper Midwest Tillage Guide• https://extension.umn.edu/soil-and-water/soil-management-and-health#upper-

midwest-tillage-guide-1233360

• Midwest Cover Crop Council• https://extension.umn.edu/soil-and-water/soil-management-and-health#upper-

midwest-tillage-guide-1233360

• SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education)• https://www.sare.org/

Soil Health Resources

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Polling Question

NRCS | SHD | Introduction to Soil Health | v2.0

The key to understanding soil health is:a. Understanding the importance of cover crop mixesb. Understanding how soil functionsc. Understanding reduced tillage systemsd. Knowing what microorganisms inhabit the soile. Relating soil health to runoff and infiltration