Soil health is defined by the USDA NRCS as the continued capacity of a soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans. These functions include maintaining plant productivity, regulating and partitioning water, filtering and buffering against pollutants, and storing and cycling nutrients.
Soil health as we know it depends on management and generally boils down to organic matter and porosity, two physical properties that are highly dependent on soil texture. When we have higher organic matter we have, greater water infiltration, lower bulk density, higher EC (Electro Conductivity), higher respiration, greater soil nitrogen, greater aggregate stability, more earthworms and more soil microbes.
To improve soil health farmers should consider implementing a practice or combination of practices that depend on soil texture, soil health status, and constraints of their farming system. The practices include minimizing disturbance, maximize time with living roots, keep the soil covered, and diversifying rotations.
News
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Wheat is the soil health advantage
Published on February 6, 2023
Laura Van Eerd details how soil metrics of her long-term experiments were influenced by the reintroduction of wheat. -
Clearing up nutrient unknowns on In the Weeds podcast series
Published on January 19, 2023
“In the Weeds” podcast navigates the uncertain waters of the fertilizer markets with Kurt Steinke, MSU Extension soil fertility specialist. -
In the Weeds podcast highlights key findings from Kellogg Biological Station research
Published on January 19, 2023
Agriculture is an intricate system of inputs and outputs. Come listen to the “In the Weeds” podcast as we explore the complexities. -
Collaborative video series with the Midwest Cover Crop Council
Published on January 11, 2023
A new video series on Midwest Cover Crop Council’s YouTube highlights Michigan farmers using cover crops. -
Register for Michigan’s 2023 Drainage Design Workshop
Published on January 6, 2023
Learn about subsurface drainage design with hands-on exercises, design tools, and learn from drainage industry professionals on March 7-9, 2023
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