Monitoring nutrient mineralization
As mentioned above, you can use standard soil and nutrient mineralization tests to monitor soil nutrient availability. However, organic nutrient management relies not only on nutrients available at the time of soil sampling but also on the nutrients released through mineralization during the growing season. Unfortunately, there is no easy or inexpensive test that assesses when, which, or how many nutrients are released from crop residues or mineralizing organic matter. Instead, you will need to...
Improve biological properties of soil
Improving soil physical and chemical properties is important for both conventional and organic production, but improving biological properties is particularly important for organic production. Producers describe soil biological health in terms of earthy smell, soil crumbliness, and greasy feel. Soil scientists measure soil biological health in terms of microbial biomass, microbial communities, and rate of organic matter decomposition. Organic production relies on nutrients released through the...
Monitoring soil nutrient levels
A good nutrient management plan involves on-going monitoring of soil nutrients. You can request a standard soil test through your Cooperative Extension Service. These tests provide an assessment of plant-available nutrients, as well as soil acidity or alkalinity pH , nutrient holding capacity CEC, or cation exchange capacity , and trace sub stances such as sodium Na and boron B that may be present at toxic levels. Organic producers and inspectors should use these tests to Determine levels of...
Crop rotations cover crops and green manures as nutrient management components
Crop rotations and cover crops can add, deplete, or conserve soil nutrients, depending on how they are managed. They can also affect nutrient availability through a variety of processes. They use soil moisture, but they enhance water infiltration and aggregate formation. They also influence populations of soil organisms. 13 Crop rotations and cover crops can add, deplete, or conserve soil nutrients, depending on how they are managed. Nutrient additions. Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through...
Management of crop nutrients and soil fertility
Organic soil fertility management is based on feeding the soil a rich, complex diet of plant residues, animal manures, and compost. In contrast, conventional agriculture simplifies crop nutrient and soil fertility management by feeding the plant soluble nutrients. Thus, crop nutrition in conventional agriculture can be managed with three pieces of information 1 the amounts of nutrients used by the crop during the growing season, 2 the amount of plant-available nutrients in the soil, and 3 the...
Improve physical condition of soil
Producers describe soil's physical conditions using terms such as softness, mellowness, workability, or tilth. Soil scientists measure soil physical conditions using the terms bulk density, penetrability, water infiltration rate, water holding capacity, and erodibility. Soil that has good physical condition is porous, like a sponge, rather than tightly packed, like a ball of modeling clay. Soil in good physical condition provides several benefits for plant growth. Plant roots can grow through...