Sustainable Practices Part 2: Managing Soils

[Kiril]

This section of the sustainable practices series of threads will be to discuss management of soils, mitigation of damaged soils, and general information that would be useful for anyone working with soils.

I think we have three sub-topics for discussion here.

1) General - General issues pertaining to management, mitigation and whatever doesn't fit in the following categories.
2) Mineral - Issues & information pertaining to the mineral/inorganic fraction of soils
3) Biological - Issues & information pertaining to the biological/organic fraction of soils

It would be helpful when posting if you can remember to note one of these areas in the "title" field of the advanced posting form, and perhaps a specific key word. For example biological, compost teas or mineral, clays or general, testing. This is not required, but will help when doing searches on the content.

I will start by providing a list of resources that may be of use. This is by no means a complete list of resources. I'll start with some general information links, and if time permits, links to more specific topics. The naming convention is as follows.

Source Type_ Link To Homepage of Source : Link To File or Page

Source Types Include:

GI_ = General information
JA_ = Journal article/publication
PUB_ = Publications that are not related with a journal
PUBS_ = List of links to publications (may or may not be related with a journal)

I only post links to information that I believe are credible, unbiased sources. If someone has reason to believe a source is not credible, or is presenting biased information, point it out and please include an explanation why.


Soil General Knowledge and Information


GI_ USDA-NRCS (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/) : Natural Resources Conservation Service Soils Website (http://soils.usda.gov/)

GI_ USDA-NRCS (http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/) : Web Soil Survey (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)

PUB_ USDA-SARE (http://www.sare.org/) : Building Soils for Better Crops, 2nd Edition (http://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdf)

PUBS_ NCAT-ATTRA (http://attra.ncat.org/) : National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: Soil & Compost Publications (http://attra.ncat.org/soils.html)

PUB_ USDA-NAL-AFSIC (http://afsic.nal.usda.gov/): Organic Gardening: A Guide to Resources (http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/org_gar.htm)

PUBS_ UC-SAREP (http://sarep.ucdavis.edu/) : Organic Farming Publications/Resources (http://sarep.ucdavis.edu/Organic/pubs.htm)

PUBS_ VCE (http://www.ext.vt.edu/) : SERA_17 Referenced Publications (http://www.sera17.ext.vt.edu/SERA_17_Publications.htm)

GI_ CU-CALS (http://cals.cornell.edu/) : Cornell Soil Health Website (http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/)

PUB_ Holistic Agriculture Library (http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/01aglibwelcome.html) : Factors Of Soil Formation. A System of Quantitative Pedology (http://www.soilandhealth.org/01aglibrary/010159.Jenny.pdf)

PUB_ OSU-EXT (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/) : Soil Test Interpretation Guide (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/EC/EC1478.pdf)


Thanks in advance to all who participate. :)

-------------------------------------------

He who asks is a fool for five minutes,
but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. -Chinese Proverb


The thought manifests as the word.
The word manifests as the deed.
The deed develops into habit.
And the habit hardens into character.
So watch the thought and its ways with care.
And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings. -Buddha

[Kiril]

Thought it might be appropriate to replicate some of the information discussed in part 1.

Soil Taxonomy: Soil are made up of 12 primary orders.

The Twelve Orders of Soil Taxonomy (ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NSSC/Soil_Orders/orders_hi.pdf) (high res pdf of the below image)

http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=99467&stc=1&d=1202585021


The University of Idaho also has an excellent site on The Twelve Soil Orders (http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/index.htm) which includes some nice pictures.



The USDA soil texture triangle (soil textural classification):

http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=99489&stc=1&d=1202594827



For those of you that are interested in learning some of the basics, the following is an excellent site for all age groups.

Soil Characterization Protocols (http://soil.gsfc.nasa.gov/pvg/chartoc.htm#intro)


To determine soil characteristics in the field, you can use this guide (also from the above site). Go to the site to get high resolution images of the guide.

Soil Characterization Field Guide (http://ltpwww.gsfc.nasa.gov/globe/laminate/laminate.htm)

[Kiril]

I'd like to open up discussion on quick methods of visually assessing a sites soil status.

A couple of key things I look for on residential and commercial properties.

1) Weed pressure (entire site)
2) Mower ruts and shortcuts (lawn)
3) Tree surface rooting (entire site)
4) Plant indicators (biotic/abiotic) (entire site)
5) Hardscape (entire site)
6) Surrounding conditions (eg. city/rural, proximity to streets/street activity, etc...)

Does anyone what to add to the list and/or expand the above?

[Newby08]

can I ask you what these signs tell you? what they are indicating?

[phasthound]

can I ask you what these signs tell you? what they are indicating?

Weed pressure can tell you about soil compaction and nutrient deficiencies. There are books available with this info, can't think of their titles at the moment.

[Kiril]

can I ask you what these signs tell you? what they are indicating?

List expanded with some possible problems for each.

1) Weed pressure (entire site)
a) nutrients
b) compaction (physical/chemical)
c) drainage/water status
d) poor cultural practices
e) historic conditions (weed seed bank)

2) Mower ruts and shortcuts (lawn)
a) drainage and variable water status
b) compaction (physical)
c) possible anoxic conditions
d) poor cultural practices
e) poor design

3) Tree surface rooting (entire site)
a) drainage and/or insufficient water infiltration
b) compaction (physical/chemical)
c) poor design

4) Plant indicators (biotic/abiotic) (entire site)
a) nutrients
b) compaction (physical/chemical)
c) water status
d) pest problems (loss of natural checks or due in part to items a-c)

5) Hardscape (entire site)
a) drainage/water status
b) nutrients
c) compaction (physical)

6) Surrounding conditions (eg. city/rural, proximity to streets/street activity, etc...)
a) pollution/chemical inputs
b) drainage/water status
c) nutrients

[Newby08]

great, I appreciate it.

[dtally]

Somewhere I read you could tell the soil condition (to much nitrogen, to little, ect) but the weeds that were growing. I just don't remember what it said or where I read it. Any thoughts on this?

[Kiril]

Somewhere I read you could tell the soil condition (to much nitrogen, to little, ect) but the weeds that were growing. I just don't remember what it said or where I read it. Any thoughts on this?

While some weeds do require specific growing conditions (like any other plant), many weeds are generalists. Basically use your weeds to help you diagnose potential problems in order to determine what further testing may be required. The important thing to remember is to use weeds to form a general idea, not as an absolute indicator. For example, clover is known to thrive in nitrogen deficient soils, however if you see it, do not jump to the conclusion that you need to apply nitrogen.

Your best resource is knowledge through observation and testing. Next would be identify the weed then get information regarding life cycles and growth requirements.

Here are some resources for more information.

PUB_ IAState (http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/): Spatial weed distribution: Can it be used to improve weed management (http://www.weeds.iastate.edu/mgmt/qtr99-1/spatial.htm)

GI_ Beyond Pesticides (http://www.beyondpesticides.org/): Read Your “Weeds” – A Simple Guide To Creating A Healthy Lawn (http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/resources/Read%20Your%20Weeds-Organic%20Lawns.pdf)

PUB_ EAP (http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/): Weeds as Indicators Of Soil Conditions (http://www.eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/EAP67.htm)

PUBS_ ACRES (http://www.acresusa.com/books/thumbnail.asp?catid=10&pcid=2): Weed Control (http://www.acresusa.com/books/thumbnail.asp?catid=10&pcid=2)

Google Book Search: subject:"Weeds; Control." (http://books.google.com/books?q=+subject:%22Weeds%3B+Control.%22&source=gbs_summary_r)

[dtally]

Where do you people store all this information? Thanks.

[RLawns]

is there a part 1 to this-Sustainable Practices Part 2: Managing Soils?

Thanks Rick

[JDUtah]

is there a part 1 to this-Sustainable Practices Part 2: Managing Soils?

Thanks Rick

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=215264&highlight=sustainable+part+1

[RLawns]

Thanks so much :)

[JDUtah]

My pleasure. :)

[starry night]

Where do you people store all this information? Thanks.
They are all geniuses (or is it geniusi?) I'm not sure of the spelling because I'm not one (yet).

[bicmudpuppy]

I enjoy the reading. Unfortunately, there is almost nothing sustainable about what I'm trying to do. FWIW, the golf course I manage sits on ground that was primarily arroyo. That means that most of what I have to work with are entisol. The arroyo still cuts through the golf course, but attempts have been made to manage the seasonal flow and sand deposits. Unfortunately for me, no one made any effort to maintain the design for the last 8 years. I am in the process of trying to figure out how to eventually move 100Kcu. yds. of sand/debris. Add in that the arroyo seems to want to deposit around 12K add'l yards each season. A major reason I "dropped in" to the forum here is an interest in organics to increase the organic matter in the sand here. I have a little bit of loamy sand, but most of the property is sand.

[starry night]

They are all geniuses (or is it geniusi?) I'm not sure of the spelling because I'm not one (yet).

I just re-read my own post and it sounded a little sarcastic. I didn't mean it to sound that way-------light-hearted was my intention. Seriously, there are some very smart guys on this particular forum and obviously they have all this organic info in their brains.

[treegal1]

love this post..................

is part 3 in the works??????

[Kiril]

love this post..................

is part 3 in the works??????

Been thinking about it, but this part hasn't been adequately covered yet. We haven't really touched on management yet.