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The soilecosystem
Residue decompositionNutrient cyclingAggregation and porosityEnhance plant growthBreak down contaminants
•Water MovementHow quickly water moves through soil
Water Holding CapacityHow much water a soil can hold available for plant growth
Soil pores and water movement
•Macropores: Infiltration and drainage
•Capillary pores: Available water
•Micropores: Unavailable water
Soil properties that affect porosity
•Soil texture
•Soil structure
•Compaction and disturbance
•Organic matter
Formation of soil structure
•Growth of roots and movement of organisms create pores and aggregates
•Soil organisms break down organic residues, producing glues that stabilize aggregates
•Fungi provide structural support to aggregates
•Physical, chemical processes also involved
Most local soils formed from glacial
materials
•Glacial Till (Ice laid)
•Glacial Outwash (Meltwater)
•Lacustrine (Lakebed)
•Ablation till•Not compacted•Permeable to water and roots
•Basal till•Compact and cemented•Barrier to water and roots
Glacial till soil
0 to 4”gravelly sandy loam4 to 10”, very gravelly loamy sand
10” +sand and gravel
Glacial outwash soil Very low water and nutrient holding capacity
Glacial lacustrine(lakebed) soil
Fine texture, highwater holding capacity, hard towork when wet orvery dry.
Nutrient Management
•Meet crop nutrient needs
•Maintain soil quality
•Conserve resources
•Protect water quality -- reduce leaching and runoff risk
Plant NutrientsMajor Nutrients•Nitrogen
•Phosphorus
•Potassium
•Calcium
•Magnesium
•Sulfur
Micronutrients•Boron
•Iron
•Manganese
•Zinc
•Copper
•Chloride
•Molybdenum
How nutrients become available
Mineral Matter Organic Matter
KMgCa
N
SP
K+ NH4+ Ca++ SO4--
soluble, available
Notavailable
-
-
- -
-
-- - - - -
Ca++ K+
clay OM
- - --
- -
Mg++
K+
Nutrient Anion Availability
Anion Binding SolubilityPO4
-3 strong low
BO3-3 medium medium
SO4-2 v. weak high
NO3- v. weak v. high
Organic Materials
•Little or no processing
•Low nutrient content
•Slow release of nutrients
•Plant, animal, or mineral sources
Organic Materials:Slow release nutrients
•Plants can only take up nutrients that are in available form (simple, soluble ions).
•Most nutrients in organic materials are in complex organic molecules or minerals, and are not immediately available to plants.
Slow release nutrients
•Biological processes slowly release the nutrients in organic amendment into available forms.
•Rate of nutrient release depends on the nature of the amendment and environmental conditions.
Nutrient uptake
•The forms of nutrients taken up by plants are the same for all types of fertilizer -- manufactured or organic.
Organic materials:Fertilizers vs. Soil
amendments
•Fertilizer 1. High nutrient content and availability.
2. Main benefit is nutrients. 3. Relatively small amounts applied.
•Soil amendment 1. Low nutrient content and availability. 2. Main benefit is organic matter. 3. Large amounts applied.
Carbon:Nitrogen ratio
•Low C:N supplies N to plants
•High C:N ties up N by biological immobilization
C:N ratio and N availability
C:N
<10:1
10:1 to 20:1
20:1 to 30:1
>30:1
N availability
High
Med - Low
Very Low
Negative
High N ContentC:N < 10:1
•Rapid N availability
•Use as a fertilizer
•Over application leads to excess nutrient levels in soil -- potentially harming crop and water quality.
Moderate N ContentC:N 12:1 to 25:1
•Slow N availability
•Can add large amounts without risk of over-fertilization
•Use as a soil amendment
•Expect some N immobilization (tie-up) shortly after application.
Low N contentC:N > 30:1
•N immobilization
•Need to add N along with organic amendment
•Use as mulch or bulking agent for compost
What is a soil nutrient test?
•A chemical extraction of “plant-available” nutrients.
•Used to predict nutrient availability and fertilizer need.
Soil Nutrient Tests
•Standard agricultural tests (P, K, Ca, Mg, B, pH, lime requirement)
•Nitrate tests•Sampling Reference: UIdaho Bulletin 704. Soil Sampling
When to sample?
•Standard tests can be taken at any time before fertilization.
•It is best to be consistent from year to year.
•Nitrate tests are taken at specific times.
How to sample•Divide farm into units (based on soil type, crop, management).
•Small, diverse farms will need to group crops for sampling.
•Take 10 to 20 cores per unit (0 to 12 inch depth).
•Avoid unusual areas.
Sample handling
•Keep moist samples cool during and after sampling.
•Refrigerate, freeze, or bring directly to lab.
•OR, spread in thin layer and air dry
•Send about 1 pint to lab, carefully labeled.
Choosing a lab•Does the lab routinely do ag tests?
•Do they use OSU or WSU test methods?
•Do they give fertilizer recommendations?
•What information do they need?
•How to send sample?
•Cost? Turn-around time?
•What does report look like?
Interpreting soil tests•Nutrient status Low, medium, high
•Fertilizer recommendation
•You will need to interpret for organic fertilizers.
•You will need to interpret if one test represents multiple crops.
•Reference: EC 1478. Soil Test Interpretation Guide