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Articles Tagged with ''organic matter''

Lessons From the No-Till Underground

Digging a soil pit can help no-tillers understand both the limiting factors of their soils, and what makes them tick, as they work to build soil health and higher yields.

By John Dobberstein posted on August 21, 2015 | Posted in No-Till Farming 101, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

A SOIL PIT dug on no-tiller Alan Mindemann’s farm recently shed light on the role no-till practices play in increasing organic matter and making soils more productive. The pit was dug in mid-July on the long-time no-tiller’s farm near Apache, Okla., as more than 50 farmers attended a No-Till on the Plains Whirlwind Expo event.

No-Till, Cover Crops No Problem for Northern Climate

After the Willfords were told they’d be back to conventional tillage after a couple of years, the Minnesota family is proving no-till and cover crops have a permanent place on their farm

By Laura Barrera posted on August 21, 2015 | Posted in Cover Crops, Residue Management, Nutrient Management

No-till isn't a common practice in Minnesota, but one operation is proving it can work.

How Seeding Cover Crops Can Slash Your Fertilizer Bills

No-till pioneer David Brandt shares how he uses varied mixes of covers to build and recycle soil nutrients and notch major reductions in input costs.

By John Dobberstein posted on July 23, 2015 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

David Brandt may like the nice, green color his fields take on after one of his cover crop mixes emerges. But he also likes to see another kind of green — the color of money.

From the Desk of John Dobberstein

5 Steps For Successful No-Tilling

By John Dobberstein posted on July 22, 2015 | Posted in Seeding & Planting, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Increasing organic matter by just 1-2% through eliminating tillage, rotating crops and seeding cover crops will help southern Plains no-tillers keep more water in their soils and increase nutrient uptake, helping make their operations more profitable, says NRCS soil scientist Steve Alspach.

Crop Rotation Positively Impacts Soil Microbial Communities, Land Sustainability

June 19, 2015 | Posted in Soil Health

A study found that crop rotations, in isolation from other management factors, can increase the functions performed by soil microbial communities that benefit plant growth.

From the Desk of John Dobberstein

Focus on Soil Organic Matter, Cover

By John Dobberstein posted on June 11, 2015 | Posted in Cover Crops

I’ll have to say, the first time I looked at the U.S. Drought Monitor Index map released for June 2, I was shocked. The pockets of orange, yellow and brown indicating extreme drought in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, seemingly permanent fixtures, had all but disappeared in a span of 4-6 weeks.

Intensive Precipitation Patterns Reveal Poor Soil Health

June 10, 2015 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: South Dakota State University Extension

Erosion (sheet, rill or gully) and soil surface sealing are visual examples that indicate poor soil health.

5 Key Soil Test Measurements for Productive Soils

April 13, 2015 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Check soil pH, phosphorus and potassium levels, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and base saturation on soil test analysis, says AgSource Laboratories.

What is the Nutrient Value of Lost Organic Matter by Erosion?

March 10, 2015 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

Iowa State University estimates the economic cost of lost organic matter due to soil erosion and how it affects the long-term productivity of the soil.

Study Shows No Damage to Soils from Cover Crop Grazing

February 12, 2015 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health

A 7-year USDA study found that relatively low-level grazing does not compact the soil or significantly affect the amount of soil organic matter.

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No-Till Planting Update: Potential Slug Problem?

On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, Westville, Ind., no-tiller Jeff Herrold provides an update on how planting is going so far, and why a potential problem with slugs is causing some early-season anxiety. Herrold also explains why he prefers to plant soybeans before corn.

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Articles Tagged with ''organic matter''

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