Soil Management Site Selection, Soil Fertility Warren Roberts George Kuepper
Dec 07, 2014
Soil ManagementSite Selection, Soil Fertility
Warren RobertsGeorge Kuepper
Where We’re Going• Soil Texture and Drainage• Site Selection• Soil Fertility & pH
• Fertilizers & Nutrients
Later Sessions• Soil Biology & Micro-Organisms
• Compost, Cover Crops and Green Manures
• Organic Farming
Commonly Known Soil Types• Sandy, Sandy Loam, Loam
• Light Soil (Not Really)
• Clay• Heavy Soil (Not Really)
• Sandy Soils are Actually Heavy• Clay Soils are Actually Light
An Acre of Soil Weighs What?
• Acre furrow slice• Top plow layer over one acre• Usually 6-7 inches deep• Averages about 2 million lbs
Definitions
• Clay (0.001 – 0.002 mm)• Silt (0.002 - 0.050 mm)• Sand (0.050 - 2.00 mm)• Gravel (>2.00 mm)
Pore Space• The portion of the soil volume occupied by
air and water
• Ideally half air and half water
• Very Important for Plant Growth
Loose Soil
Compacted Soil
Pore Space• Macro Pore (Large Spaces)
• Sands• Micro Pore (Small Spaces)
• Clay
Loose Loam Soil
Compacted Loam Soil
Water Movement in Soil
• Gravity• Primary force in sandy soils
• (large pores)
• Capillary Forces, Osmotic (Suction)• Primary force in clay soils
• (small pores)
Aerobic vs Anaerobic
Soil Moisture
• Saturation• All pores filled
• Can become Anaerobic
• Field Capacity• Drainage has ceased• Capillary action holds remaining water• Micro-pores may be full
Ideal Soil• Most Desirable
• Loam• Sandy Loam• Loamy Sand• Sandy Clay Loam
• Least Desirable• Sand
• Won’t hold water• Clay
• Difficult to work
Ideal Soil• Well Drained Area
• Not in a flood plain• Not in a low-lying area where water can accumulate
• Good air drainage• Not subject to late spring frosts or early fall frosts
• Deep Soil• Not overlying a rocky base• Not overlying a clay base
Ideal Organic Soil• Not Contaminated from Previous Years • Not Contaminated by Neighbors• Not Contaminated by Highways, Power Line
Right-of-Ways
Ideal Soil• Easy to Access• Easy to Irrigate• Easy to Control Predators
• Deer, Raccoons, Feral Hogs, Coyotes, Humans
Ideal Soil – Noble Foundation
Ideal Soil– Noble Foundation
Organic Matter
Organic Matter – For Whatever the Reason
• Holds Water• Prevents Excess
Drying
• Improves Drainage• Prevents Saturation• Keeps Soil Aerobic
• Prevents Runoff
• Like a Sponge
Organic Matter – For Whatever the Reason
• Holds Nutrients• Prevents Nutrient
Loss• Prevents
Environmental Contamination
Organic Matter – For Whatever the Reason
• Improves Tilth• Provides Larger
Pore Spaces for Root Growth
• Allows for Air-Water Movement
Ideal Soil
• 50% Solid Matter• 45% Mineral• 5% Organic
• 50% Pore Space• 25% Water• 25% Air
Soil Fertility
• Supplies Nutrients to the Plant for Growth and Development
Soil Fertility• Essential Plant Nutrients
• 16 (18) required for plant growth, development, and reproduction
• Macronutrients: (large quantities used by the plant)
• Micronutrients: (small quantities used by the plant )
Soil Fertility – Macro Nutrients
• Primary
• Secondary
• Carbon ( C )• Hydrogen ( H ) • Oxygen ( O )
• Nitrogen ( N )• Phosphorus ( P )• Potassium ( K ) Kalium
• Calcium (Ca)• Magnesium ( Mg)• Sulfur (S )
Soil Fertility
Micro Iron ( Fe )Boron ( B )Copper ( Cu)Chlorine ( Cl )Manganese ( Mn )Molybdenum ( Mo)Zinc ( Zn )Cobalt ( Co )Nickel ( Ni )
Soil Fertility
• See Hopkins Cafe. • Managed by My Cousin, Colonel Mo Cleaver
Soil Fertility• See Hopkins Cafe. Managed by My Cousin,
Colonel Mo Cleaver.
• C H O P K N S • Ca Fe
• Mg Bo Mn Cu Zn• Co Mo Cl• Ni
pH
• Definition: Inverse Concentration of Hydrogen Ion Concentration, Expressed in Moles per Liter
• Practical Definition: Amount of Acid in the Soil• pH goes up as H+ concentration goes down
• VERY Important, but Often Overlooked
pH and Nutrient Availability
Lane Agricultural Center - OSU
Typical Fertilizer• 5-10-15• 13-13-13• 34-0-0• 18-46-0• 0-0-62• 0-46-0
Next Session• Soil Sampling and Soil Testing