In the Midwest, the spatial variability that farmers encounter us due to the topographical diversity of the landscape. The topographical diversity controls many soil properties,
Most agricultural soils are depleted of their soil organic matter (SOM) reserves. A severe loss of SOM content may degrade soil functionality, its capacity for
Compost and cover crops are often used to add organic matter to the soil in frequently tilled, intensive organic vegetable production systems. The objectives of
Removal of biomass for bioenergy production may decrease soil organic carbon. While perennials or cover‐cropped grains often have greater root production than annual grain crops,
The use of plastic mulch film is standard practice in many conventional and organic fresh market vegetable production systems. Key benefits of plastic mulch include
Zone tillage has recently risen in popularity as an approach for reducing tillage by tilling only areas directly where crops will be sown and leaving
In this session, leading experts dive deep into the soil-related benefits of cover crops. Ray Weil (University of Maryland) discusses the physical benefits, including improved
Cowpeas were extensively grown in the southern U.S. for use as cover crops, seasonal forage, or green manure before the development of inorganic N fertilizers.
Soil microbial community structure and functioning, including substrate catalysis and nutrient cycling, in agroecosystems vary with soil management practices. Intensifying and diversifying cropping systems by
The definition of soil health is changing. For many decades, the study of soil health emphasized soil’s physical and chemical properties. Today, soil scientists strive
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a vital component of soil with important effects on the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Storage of SOC results from interactions
Methods of improving soil health come back to the core principles identified by NRCS, including a greater diversity of plants, keeping the soil covered, having
Legume cover crops can play a valuable role in maintaining and increasing soil quality and nitrogen availability, but are infrequently grown in the Upper Midwest
Global agricultural and food systems face the challenge of feeding a growing world population in the face of finite and diminishing resources. To guide the
Soil health is a combination of physical, chemical and biological properties impacting the function and productivity of the soil. Several of these properties directly affect
Fungi in the genus Metarhizium are insect pathogens that can establish as endophytes and can benefit their host plant. In field experiments, a positive correlation
Rollers/crimpers have been used to terminate cover crops typically with supplemental herbicide application to speed-up termination. Due to environmental concerns, there is a need to
We conducted a two-year, four-season field experiment on the potential of various cover crops during the summer seasons of both years, followed by monocultures of
A unique approach to looking at the big picture of soil health by comparing the economy of a country to the underground economy of the
Woody Van Arkel, Long time cover crop user and striptill/notill farmer Right now I’m trying to develop a perennial/row crop system to try to meet