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Module 2: Your Living SoilModule 2: Your Living Soil

Soils

Soil Quality

Fertilizing

Soil Surveys

IrrigationNRCS

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Getting Down and Dirty Getting Down and Dirty With SoilWith Soil

Developed by :Developed by :

Hudson Minshew, Oregon State University Extension ServiceHudson Minshew, Oregon State University Extension Service

Susan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative ExtensionSusan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

USDA NRCS

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Lesson 1 AgendaLesson 1 AgendaSoil texture and

structure

The living soil

Understanding soil erosion

Reducing soil erosion

Improving your soil

Taking a soil sample

NRCS, Mont.

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What describes a good soil?What describes a good soil?Drains well

Doesn’t crust after planting

Soaks up heavy rains with little runoff

Stores moisture for drought periods

Has few clods and no hardpan

Resists erosion and nutrient loss

Produces healthy, high quality crops

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How are soils formed?How are soils formed?

A. Miller

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What are soils made of?What are soils made of?

Minerals

Air

Water

Organic matter (humus)

www.statlab.iastate.edu

Soil Soil mineralsminerals

A. Miller

The soil textural triangle

A. Miller

NRCS, Bozeman Mont.

Textural Textural triangletrianglefor the for the

graphically graphically challengedchallenged

Texture by feel: SandTexture by feel: Sand

Adapted from NRCS, Bozeman Mont. by A. Miller

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Why determine soil texture?Why determine soil texture?

Soil texture influences:

Water intake rates

Water-storage capacity

Ease of tillage

Amount of aeration

Soil fertility

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In this experiment, an equal amount of water was applied to three soil types.

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Soil texture affects drainageSoil texture affects drainage

wormworm

USDA NRCS

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Benefits of soil organic matterBenefits of soil organic matter

Increased water- and nutrient-holding capacity

Formation of soil into stable aggregates

Reduced soil compaction

Improved water infiltration

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What threatens my soil?What threatens my soil?

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Signs of water erosionSigns of water erosion

Small rills and channels on the soil surface

Soil deposited at the base of slopes

Sediment in streams, lakes, and reservoirs

Pedestals of soil supporting pebbles and plant materials

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Soil qualitySoil quality

An assessment of the capacity of a soil to:

– Sustain plant and animal productivity

– Maintain or enhance water and air quality

– Support human health and habitation

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How do How do I know I know what to what to add to add to my my soil???soil???

A. Miller

Test your soil!Test your soil!

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Use the “slice” method for a

representative sample.

Managing Soil to Keep It Managing Soil to Keep It ProductiveProductive

Developed by: Developed by:

Hudson MinshewHudson MinshewOregon State University Extension ServiceOregon State University Extension ServiceSusan DonaldsonSusan DonaldsonUniversity of Nevada Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of Nevada Cooperative Extension

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Lesson 2, Part 1: FertilizingLesson 2, Part 1: Fertilizing

What do my soil test results mean?

What nutrients do plants need?

How can I supply those nutrients?

pHpHIndicates relative acidity or alkalinity

pH 7 = neutral; less than pH 7 = acid; more than pH 7 = alkaline or basic

Adapted from library.thinkquest.org by A. Miller

Soil pH Soil pH and and

nutrientsnutrients

Adapted from www.soil.ncsu.edu by A. Miller

Widest part of the bar indicates maximum availability

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Classifying salt-affected Classifying salt-affected soilssoils

Electrical conductivity measurements (EC)

Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)

Salt-affected soils are commonly classified for management purposes into three groups: saline, sodic, and saline-sodic based on EC and ESP

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Plant nutrientsPlant nutrients

Substances necessary for plant growth

Some, such as hydrogen, oxygen and carbon, come from the air and water

Others, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, may need to be added

Excess or improper use of fertilizers may result in water pollution

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MacronutrientsMacronutrients

N = nitrogen

P = phosphorus

K = potassium

H = hydrogen

O = oxygen

C = carbon

Ca = calcium

Mg = magnesium

S = sulfur

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MicronutrientsMicronutrients

Fe = iron

Mn = manganese

Zn = zinc

B = boron

Mb = molybdenum

Ni = nickel

Cu = copper

Co = cobalt

Cl = chlorine

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What’s in What’s in the bag?the bag?

WAY TO GROW

FERTILIZER

28 – 14 - 5GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

Total nitrogen 28% 6% Ammonium nitrogen 14% Urea nitrogenAvailable phosphoric acid 14%

Soluble potash 5%

Derived from sulfur-coated urea,

etc.

Product name

NPK formula

Nitrogen content

Phosphorus content

Potassium content

Specific sources

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Calculating fertilizer ratesCalculating fertilizer rates

X 100Pounds of nutrient recommended Percentage of nutrient in fertilizer

material

To convert a recommendation to pounds/acre of an actual fertilizer material, use the following formula:

USDA NRCS

Nutrient deficienciesNutrient deficiencies

Lesson 2, Part 2: Soil SurveysLesson 2, Part 2: Soil Surveys

How to use a soil survey

How to find a map unit

Map unit descriptions

Soil ratings and capabilities

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov

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How do I use a soil survey?How do I use a soil survey?

Locate your property on the “Index to Map Sheets” page

Note the number of the map sheet

Find that sheet

Locate your property on the map sheet

Make a list of map unit symbols

Soil map unit exampleSoil map unit example

630 Fleischmann gravelly clay loam

Soil textural class is part of map unit name

Number designation

Name given by soil scientists conducting survey

Soil Soil limitationslimitations

NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

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Suitability ratings

Temperature and precipitation data

Freeze dates and growing season

Productivity

Building site development

Other information:Other information:

Capability classesCapability classes

USDA NRCS

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Got Water?Got Water?

Developed by: Developed by: Hud Minshew, Oregon State University Extension ServiceHud Minshew, Oregon State University Extension Service

Susan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative Susan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative ExtensionExtension

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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Lesson 3 AgendaLesson 3 Agenda

Sources of irrigation water: surface versus well water

Matching available water to soils and plants

Determining when it’s time to irrigate

Irrigation systems

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Where will you get your Where will you get your water?water?

Do you have a water right?

Where will your water come from?

When or how often will you get your water?

www.farmphoto.com

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Things to know before Things to know before you start to irrigate:you start to irrigate:

What plants do you want to grow?

Do you have enough available water to support the plants?

Are your soils appropriate for growing the plants you selected?

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Where do plants get their water Where do plants get their water from in the root zone?from in the root zone?

Adapted from PNW 475 by A. Miller

Soil texture and drainageSoil texture and drainage

Soil textureInfiltration rate, inches per hour

Sand 2 - 4

Sandy loam 1 - 3

Silt loam, loams 0.25 – 1.5

Silty clay loams, clay 0.1 – 0.3

A. Miller

Available waterAvailable water

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

Sand SandyLoam

Loam SiltLoam

ClayLoam

SiltyClay

Clay

Finer Texture

Wa

ter

Co

nte

nt

(% v

olu

me

)

Available Water

Field Capacity

Wilting Point

Unavailable Water

OSU Extension Service

Available waterAvailable water

A. Miller

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When is it time to irrigate?When is it time to irrigate?

Rule of thumb: when the amount of water-holding capacity is at 50 % -- but that’s hard to tell!

If your plants are showing signs of stress, irrigation is overdue

– Look for wilting or grasses that don’t spring back up when stepped on

The Look-and-feel MethodThe Look-and-feel Method

USDA NRCS

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Look-and-feel methodLook-and-feel method

Clay, clay loam or silty clay loam at

25 to 50% moisture

Clay, clay loam or silty clay loam at

50 to 75% moisture

Irrigation is overdue. Will need to irrigate soon. USDA NRCS

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Look-and-feel methodLook-and-feel methodSandy loam or fine sandy

loam at 50 to 75% moisture

Sandy loam or fine sandy loam at

25 to 50% moisture

Irrigation is overdue. Will need to irrigate soon.

Irrigation methods: selecting the Irrigation methods: selecting the system that’s right for yousystem that’s right for you

Micro-irrigationMicro-irrigation

SurfaceSurface

SprinkleSprinkleUSDA NRCS

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Are you using an existing Are you using an existing system, or starting over?system, or starting over?

Your flexibility may be limited with an existing system, but costs will be lower

Starting over allows you to carefully match soils, plants and water availability with irrigation systems, but can be costly

New irrigation systems may save time, money or water

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What source of power What source of power will you use?will you use?

None – select an irrigation system that does not require power

Electricity from an existing power line

An internal combustion engine

Solar power

Surface irrigation (gravity-flow)Surface irrigation (gravity-flow)

NRCS Irrigation Page

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

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Contour-furrow irrigationContour-furrow irrigation

Icrisat.org

Powered systems: Powered systems: sprinklerssprinklers

UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Low-energy precision-applicationLow-energy precision-applicationsprinklerssprinklers

USDA NRCS

USGS

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Drip irrigationDrip irrigation

USDA SCS

Graphic by A Miller, adapted from USDA-SCS 1984

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Checking your system:Checking your system:Does it apply water uniformly?Does it apply water uniformly?

UNCE, Reno, Nev.