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Soils: 2 Sections
� §492.5 Soil Management report
� § 492.6(3) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments
§492.5 Soil Management Report
Goal: Reduce runoff and healthy plant growth
Soil Sample for analysis and recommendations
How To Take a Soil SampleFollow directions of lab
� Look for soil uniformity, 1 test per variable
� Multiple sites: 15% (e.g. 1 out of 7 units)
� Small site 5-10, large 10-15 samples
� When to sample. Allow time to get results to amend soil
� Sample when the soil is workable
� Sample depth: Lawns 3-4”, other 6”
� Amount 2 cups
� Use form from lab
� Label your bag correctly
Soil Sampling
� Follow the lab protocol
Report Must Contain
� Soil Texture
� Infiltration rate
� pH
� Total soluble salts
� Sodium
� Percent organic matter
� Recommendations
Missing
Goal: Reduce runoff and healthy plant growthEssential nutrients for plant growth
Element Symbol mg/kg percentNitrogen N 15,000 1.5Potassium K 10,000 1Calcium Ca 5,000 0.5Magnesium Mg 2,000 0.2Phosphorus P 2,000 0.2Sulfur S 1,000 0.1Chlorine Cl 100--Iron Fe 100--Boron B 20--Manganese Mn 50--Zinc Zn 20--Copper Cu 6--Molybdenum Mo 0.1--
Macro Micro
What is in the soil?
Soil TextureCan’t change texture
Soil StructureWhat does soil structure do?
Affects water infiltration rate and
water holding capacity, erodibility.
Enhances root penetration,
optimizes soil aeration, stimulates microbial diversity
Soil Aggregation
� Tilth, Friability, Soil Structure
� Aggregation Formation
� Aggregation Destruction
� Soil Aeration
� Root Penetration90% of roots in top 18” of soil
Know your soil
Or: https://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/
But,
Infiltration Rate
� Lab test
� Table (from Sacramento code)
pH
Total Soluble Salts
� Expressed in ppm or mg/L, related to Electrical Conductivity EC
� EC to TSS = 550 to 700 ppm per dS/m or mmhos/cm
� Nutrients are salts: Na+,K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-, NO3
-, HCO3-, CO32-
From: University of Georgia Agriculture Extension
Sodium
� Sodium is culprit in salinity problems
� Clays more affected than sandy soils (leaching)
� Montmorillonite clay more affected than koalinite
� Raises pH: lower nutrient availability
� Causes dispersion, opposite of aggregation
� Affects water availability
� Greater Ca and Mg offsets problem
Percent Organic Matter
Recommendations
� Need to know what plants
� Is the management organic or not?
� Provides specific guidelines to correct soils
Submission of Soil Analysis Report
� Soil analysis will be made available in timely manner to landscape and irrigation design planners
� Soil analysis report will be submitted with Landscape Documentation Package
� Unless mass grading: submit with Certificate of Completion
� Submit documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis recommendations with Certificate of Completion
§ 492.6(3) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments
� Prior to planting improve soil friability. On slopes, may do planting holes only
� Incorporate soil amendments according to recommendations
� Compost incorporated at a rate of 4 yd3 per 1,000 ft2
of permeable soil, unless surface 6” of soil has > 6% Organic Matter (OM)
� 3” of Mulch to exposed soil, unless it is turf, groundcover, seeded… 5% may be insect habitat. Designated insect habitat must be included in the landscape plan as such
Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments, cont’d
� Mulch will be applied to slopes that meet engineering standards
� Hydro-seed application meets mulch standard
� Organic post-consumer mulch must be used instead of virgin forest floor mulch, unless not available. Organic mulches are not required when prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines
What is Composting ?
� Simple definition: Managed Decomposition
� Composting is a natural form of recycling, which continually occurs in nature. Decomposition is how nutrients are recycled in an ecosystem.
� This natural decomposition can be refined by managingideal conditions.
Biological Process
�Food (C,N,P,K…)�Water�Air�Time
Guidelines for Compost Process
� Use a variety of raw materials (such as leaves, prunings, food scraps, manure, sawdust, etc..)� Greens = nitrogen materials� Browns = carbon materials
� It’s important to keep compost aerobic (turn it!)
� It must stay heated to 131º F for at least 15 days and be turned 5 times during that process.
Monitor the Temperature
How to choose your compost
� Earthy smell
� Lost identity of original material
� Stains fingers black when rubbed
� pH < 8.0
� C:N ratio < 20, <17 preferred
� Stability
� Maturity
Stability
� Stability an expression of microbial activity; How complete is the composting process.� Measured by respirometry
� Carbon Dioxide Evolution (CO2)� Oxygen Uptake (O2)� Dewar (Self-‐heating test)� Solvita (CO2 and NH3)
� A compost must be stable before maturity can be assessed
Maturity
� Maturity an expression of how well the compost is cured.� Use bioassays (best indicator)
� Cucumber seedling emergence and vigor
� Other� NH4+ to NO3 ratio Lower number is better� pH < 8.0� C/N ratio < 20:1
Ask For a Lab Test:not a fertilizer
Compost Mulch
� In the Soil/On Top
� Supplies Nutrients
� Directly Improves Soil Structure
� Conserves Water
� Improves CEC
� Some Erosion Control
� On Top of the Soil
� Zero Nutrient Input
� Slow Soil Structure Improvement
� Conserves Water
� No CEC Change
� Reduced Erosion
Soil Health
1. Promotes a resilient population of soil organisms
2. Has a symbiotic relationship with plant roots
3. Is in balance with plant pathogens , insect and weed infestations
4. Recycles, conserves and fix nutrients
5. Provides good soil structure to maximize root penetration
6. Improves soil water management
7. ‘Maximizes’ crop production
Benefits of Compost
1. Diversity of microorganisms
2. Promotes healthy plant growth
3. Tool in IPM
4. Nutrient management
5. Improves soil structure
6. Soil moisture management
Focus on Water Conservation
• 4 inch layer of mulch can save 130,000 gallons of water/acre in vineyards
• Water holding capacity increased by 40%
• 49% greater water holding capacity in a soil with sod amended with 25% compost
• Marin Carbon Project ½ inch compost one time 2600 gallons/acre
Carbon Farm Planning
CFP places carbon at the center of the planning process and views carbon as the single most important element, upon which all other on-farm/landscape processes depend
From: Carbon Cycle Institute
With Compost Without
Carbon Depletion/Restoration
� It is estimated 150 – 200 billion tonnes of soil organic matter has been lost over the past century.
� In 2012 it was estimated that 9 billion tonnes of CO2 are annually released in to the atmosphere from fossil fuel consumption.
� With the implementation of the appropriate management practices, soil organic matter content could be restored to pre-industrial agricultural levels within 50 years.
Source: Future Directions International, August 2016
Guidelines
� Never leave a soil uncovered
� Keep soil planted
� Use low or no-till practices
� Make wisely use of compost and mulch
� Use mature compost
� Have a soil test done for baseline
� Monitor Soil Organic Matter (SOM) levels
The Soil Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npu6GBbB-Oc
