Latest Newsletter

Tag Archives soil health — page 9

OSCIA has built a data visualization dashboard aggregating soil health data from 25 ONFARM sites, which is available on its website for farmers to explore and learn from.
News

ONFARM launches new data dashboard for Ontario soils

Project brings together extensive on-farm research data

By
A new online data dashboard launched by ONFARM allows the agriculture sector access to results from 25 trial sites across Ontario. The On-Farm Applied Research and Monitoring (ONFARM) applied research initiative has the task of monitoring, and modelling priority sub-watersheds, establishing in-field paired trials identifying soil health indicators and testing the effectiveness of best management […] Read more
Root symbiosis regulated through plant nutrient status
Crops, News

Root symbiosis regulated through plant nutrient status

Science Notes: Discovery offers potential to help achieve sustainable agriculture goals

By
Plants absorb phosphate better when they collaborate with certain soil fungi, research has found. Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM), a symbiosis with such fungi, is used by more than 80 per cent of plants. The fungi penetrate the root cortex cells and form hyphal networks in the soil. These take up phosphate and transport it into the […] Read more
Study clarifies nitrogen impact on carbon sequestration
News

Study clarifies nitrogen impact on carbon sequestration

Science Notes: Why soil organic carbon fails to build in high-input corn fields

By
Soil organic carbon is a cornerstone of soil health. It improves soil structure while enhancing water- and nutrient-holding capacity. To build it up, farmers incorporate crop residues into soil. So why, despite decades of residue inputs, is soil organic carbon diminishing in corn production systems? Short answer: it’s the nitrogen. “With intensive nitrogen fertilization, you […] Read more
Improved soil health, increased soil organic matter and reduced soil erosion are the top three benefits of cover crops, according to survey results. Barriers include lack of equipment, additional costs, not knowing where to start and a short growing season.
Crops

Ontario cover crop survey garners most respondents ever

Survey pinpoints potential solutions to encourage cover crop adoption

By
The recently released 2020 Ontario Cover Crop Feedback report has delivered insight into the benefits of cover cropping and the barriers that limit adoption. The main benefits identified include better soil health, increased soil organic matter and reduced erosion, while the challenges include lack of equipment, costs and a short growing season. The report stems […] Read more
Elemental sulphur is a byproduct of the oil and gas industry that is often sold at a loss, but shows promise as a replacement for ammonium sulphate to fertilize crops. Shown here are piles of sulphur in the port of Vancouver.
News

Canadian company brings carbon-friendly sulphate alternative to market

Byproduct from oil and gas industry offers sustainable fertilizer input

By
A Canadian company has launched a product that could help farmers meet sustainability demands without comprising yield – and provide a cost advantage over conventional products. SulGro is a non-synthetic, micronized elemental sulphur product that Sultech Global Innovation Corp. of Calgary says can replace conventional ammonium sulphates found in synthetic fertilizer programs. Why it matters: […] Read more
Laura Van Eerd shows the difference between corn grown on cover-cropped soil versus non-cover-cropped soil in this composite photo.
Crops

Long-term Ontario studies show value of cover crops

Boosting organic matter in soils proved to boost profit margins and reduce yield variation year to year

By
A series of long-term studies in southern Ontario are showing the value of cover crops and boosting soil organic matter. When combining data across experiments and research stations, University of Guelph soil scientist Laura Van Eerd said researchers consistently saw higher corn and soybean yields correlate to higher soil organic matter. Van Eerd spoke during […] Read more
Livestock antibiotics, rising temperatures disrupt soil microbial communities
News

Livestock antibiotics, rising temperatures disrupt soil microbial communities

Science Notes: Conditions see soil bacteria collapse, microbial efficiency reduced

By
Soils are home to diverse microbial communities that cycle nutrients, support agriculture and trap carbon, an important service for climate mitigation. Globally, around 80 per cent of Earth’s terrestrial carbon stores are found in soils.  A new study led by Jane Lucas, a community ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, investigated the interactive effects […] Read more
Clover planted into wheat is a common cover crop use in Ontario.
Crops, News

Cover crop adoption decisions are complex

Knowledge transfer and local expertise key to farmer trust in practices

By
Crops cover more than 11 per cent of the earth’s land surface, a figure that is growing every year as grasslands are tilled and forests razed. That’s one reason for greater interest in keeping that land covered throughout the year but increasing the volume of cover crops also means addressing the economics and sociological factors […] Read more
American scientists have found that measuring the amount of carbon dioxide released after wetting a sample of dry soil and letting it sit for one day is a good way to determine soil health.
Crops

CO2 release test can help assess soil health

Soil health tests could become more common as governments and private industry try to reduce agricultural emissions

By
Glacier FarmMedia – American scientists have identified an accurate method to assess soil health. They found that the amount of carbon dioxide released, after wetting a sample of dry soil and letting it sit for one day, is an excellent measuring stick for soil health. Why it matters: A simple method to gauge soil health […] Read more
Participants learned about Ecological Outcome Verification during an afternoon workshop on Sept. 10 at Meeting Place Farm near Lucknow hosted by the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario.
News

Tracking environmental gains on farms

Ecological Outcome Verification aims to take the marketing out of farm environmental assessment

By
Years of researching how to get the most out of the pastures on his Cayuga-area beef farm eventually left Cory Van Groningen frustrated.  “One book says only take the top sward and leave the rest to regrow; another book says use high-intensity grazing and trample it down; another book says take a third of the […] Read more

Cyber-Savvy Farmer

Glacier Farmmedia Podcast