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You may know that it is difficult to increase soil organic matter, but how difficult is it, with numbers? Let’s do some rough calculations so you know what to expect. The task is difficult, but the math is easy, I promise.
Bale grazing is a method of feeding livestock during the winter. Bales are placed across a pasture or paddock rather than in one location
With soil acidification, the aluminum within the soil complex is released into the soil solution, where it affects plant health.
Soil carbon was historically the subject of niche curiosity, with only soil scientists and growers aware of its existence. The urgency of climate change, however, has sparked intensive public interest in managing farmland to build soil carbon.
Just like your favorite holiday pie, soil organic matter has a number of different slices that make it come together just right. Maybe each slice isn’t the same size, but without each piece, the pie just wouldn’t be complete. We can use this pie example to understand the different ways we can look at soil organic matter, either as a whole pie or as individual slices.
Soil health education for youth is vital to change the outlook and attitude of future generations toward soil stewardship. Soil health is linked to some of the most important issues facing our planet and future generations, from a warming climate and increasing extreme weather events to toxic buildup of waste and contaminants, to fresh air and water, to the very food quantity and quality on our tables each and every day. Yet, unfortunately, most students enter college with little to no understanding of the importance of soil in our everyday lives.
Just as my daughter had extensive criteria for what makes a cookie good, we can also think about criteria for what makes a soil health indicator good.