A study of three commercial soil health tests looked at whether they could distinguish different management systems and provide useful insights to no-tillers.
Several years ago, the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative (CCSI), a program focused on improving soil health in Indiana, began receiving questions from farmers about soil health tests.
Soil biology plays a key role in building healthy soils, providing nutrients to crops and naturally controlling some soil-borne pests and diseases. It is difficult to assess the soil biological properties in a lab, but the PLFA test serves as a good indicator of soil microbial communities.
Given the numerous beneficial roles soil biology plays in crop production — including nutrient cycling, water-holding capacity and disease suppression — more no-tillers want to learn how well their soil biology is and what they can do to improve it.
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On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, precision specialist Chad Baker, co-owner of Baker Precision Planter Works in Orangeville, Ill., helps a first-generation no-tiller with planter setup, and later encounters a couple problems with a strip-tiller’s new 24-row planter. Plus, veteran agronomist Brad Forkner checks in with a couple tips for farmers to keep in mind before they take the field.
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