Plants call out with chemical signals in times of stress, summoning microbes that can unlock bound nutrients and find water in soil pores too small for the finest roots. In return, microbes get a safe place to live or a sugary drink. It’s a classic you-scratch-my-back-I’ll-scratch-yours scenario. Except when it’s not. New research from the […] Read more
Tag Archives Soil — page 3
Soil microbes help plants cope with drought
Science Notes: Microbes seen to adapt to drought over time
A soil health investigation
It took old and new technology to diagnose compaction as the culprit
The soil on Ken Mitchell’s alfalfa and corn fields looked good on paper but the reality was less than stellar in terms of production. The 100-acre block was the focus of the Grey County Soil and Crop Improvement Association crop tour in late July. It looked at how marrying new technology with tried-and-true soil assessment […] Read more
Ontario’s new Living Lab to receive $12 million over five years
Projects focused on innovation and adoption of on-farm climate change practices
A new living lab is being created in Ontario with funding assistance from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Led by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA), the project will see an investment of up to $9.2 million over five years from the federal government under the Agricultural Climate Solutions Living Labs program. Why it matters: The […] Read more
Evaluating your soil’s structure
Why it’s important and how to measure quality
Many Ontario soils display a similar pattern of compaction. The secondary tillage layer, usually the top two to four inches, is relatively loose and friable, with mostly small, rounded aggregates, especially earlier in the season before rains reconsolidate the soil. Below this layer is usually one that is significantly denser and more poorly structured. In the […] Read more
How to get the most from farm drainage investment
It comes from exploring the benefits of proper drainage
The search for every last advantage in a field often requires growers to step out of their comfort zone, whether that means considering precision agriculture applications, reduced tillage, lengthening rotations or adding cover crops. Improving field drainage can have significant benefits for soil health, the overall on-farm environment and increased crop yields. Effective drainage removes […] Read more
Maximizing nitrogen availability with manure and cover crops
Considerations for nitrogen availability timing in corn
Combining cover crops with manure can get the most value from soil nitrogen — sort of. How significantly a manure-cover crop combination affects nitrogen availability can vary based on manure type and rate, cover crop type, weather, and other factors. Still, Christine Brown, field crop sustainability specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and […] Read more
Microbes key to sequestering carbon in soil
Science Notes: Research is first to measure the relative importance of microbial processes in soil carbon cycle
Microbes are by far the most important factor in determining how much carbon is stored in the soil, according to a new study with implications for mitigating climate change and improving soil health for agriculture and food production. The research is the first to measure the relative importance of microbial processes in the soil carbon […] Read more
Is soil health society’s responsibility?
Agriculture should not attend to soil health concerns on its own, says advocate
There are many well-intentioned terms, such as sustainability and regenerative, that arise when talking about soil health and soil conservation. But turning words in action is hard to accomplish, given the drive to keep fields productive. Many people say more must be done to stem soil damage. Some statistics support that view: There is also […] Read more
Getting specific on soil health
Growers discussing their soil fertility needs are finding more layers to the subject
There’s a need for standardization of approaches to improving soil health, as farmers are hit with many different opinions and recommendations. It could be everything from acidity to nutrient solubility to microbial activity as the complexity of dealing with improving soil health is significant. Wayne Black has been making the case that producers are being […] Read more
Senators dig into soil at the grassroots level
Agriculture and Forestry Senate Committee goes on fact-finding mission
Senators soiled their undies for science and dug into soil research at the Soil Health Interpretive Centre in Elora on April 25. “We’re seeing important work that happens on the ground, yesterday at the farm level and here at the university academic level,” said Senator Rob Black, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and […] Read more
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