introduction - soil health institute
TRANSCRIPT
Increases in temperature will also lead to more
heavy precipitation events, as already experienced
by communities throughout the United States. Given
these predicted increases in the intensity and frequency
of extreme weather events, we are presented with a
fundamental question: How can we build resilience in our production systems to meet the food security needs of a growing population while protecting and improving environmental quality? The answer: By enhancing soil health.
OPPORTUNITIESOne of the greatest opportunities
to build resilience to drought and
extreme precipitation through
soil health lies in the relationship
between soil organic carbon (SOC)
and a soil’s capacity to hold plant-available water. Research
shows that a 1% increase in SOC can result in about a
2-5% increase in a soil’s available water holding capacity
(Figure 1). This is the equivalent of increasing the top 6
inches of a soil’s capacity to hold water by approximately 2,500 to 12,000 gallons per acre. Farming practices such as no-till, cover crops,
and crop rotation have proven effective at increasing
SOC, thereby restoring a soil’s
resilience to extreme weather while
simultaneously mitigating climate
change through carbon sequestration.
Further, practices to increase
SOC are not limited to cropland.
Prescribed grazing and the addition
of legumes on rangelands have
proven effective at increasing the
soil’s overall biological productivity
and SOC, thus increasing resilience.
The aforementioned soil health
promoting practices can also
significantly increase water infiltration to recharge soil water
and underlying aquifers. This not only improves resilience
to extreme weather, but reduces soil and nutrient runoff to
surface water.
INTRODUCTION
In the coming years, the United States will witness increases in drought and
extreme precipitation due to a changing climate. By 2100, scientists predict that
30% of all land will be impacted by drought given current levels of greenhouse
gas emissions, as compared to 1% today. Drought negatively impacts crop and
livestock production, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, air quality, wind
erosion, aquifer and surface water storage, and civil discourse pertaining to
water rights.
It is clear that soil health management practices can
build resilience to drought and extreme precipitation. Yet additional scientific research and engagement efforts are necessary to provide farmers and ranchers with the tools they need to capitalize on increases in SOC and become the direct beneficiaries of increased water-holding capacity, water infiltration, and the overall resilience of their soil.
RESEARCH NEEDSAdditional research is needed to:
■ Quantify potential increases in SOC and available water
holding capacity across a representative range of soils
and climates; and integrate those findings with models
of crop residue, manure, and other organic material
decomposition.
■ Develop a Decision Support System for farmers to guide
them in prescribing soil health management systems
to achieve a targeted level of drought resilience. These
same soil health promoting practices also improve water
quality, provide wildlife habitat, etc., thus concurrently
providing additional ecosystem service benefits.
■ Quantify the current status of soil health and the current
adoption level of soil health management systems
across the U.S. in order to assess the current state and
establish a baseline for measuring future progress.
■ Quantify the impacts of soil health-promoting practices
and systems on profitability and economic risk across
a range of soils, cropping systems and climates. This is
needed for existing practices already proven to enhance
soil health, as well as for new technologies/practices.
■ Determine optimal cover crop species mixes, seeding
rates and seeding methods (e.g., inter-seeding,
inter-cropping, frost-seeding) to enhance cover crop
establishment/survival, increase SOC, and protect/
enhance water quality.
EDUCATION NEEDSCorresponding educational efforts for farmers and ranchers
are needed to:
■ Develop and transfer educational materials/tools
addressing the economics of proven soil health
practices.
■ Describe the benefit and use of the associated Decision
Support System so farmers and ranchers can achieve
increased drought resilience.
ROLES OF THE SOIL HEALTH INSTITUTETo address the above research and education needs, the
Soil Health Institute will:
■ Build research/implementation strategic plans and
corresponding networks/synergies to carry out those
plans;
■ Seek and obtain funding to address the gaps identified;
■ Administer an accountable, transparent and technically
proficient grants program that develops and capitalizes
on synergies among projects;
■ Continually work alongside grantees to assess and
ensure impact of the investments made and provide that
information back to funders and the general public;
■ Incorporate research results into educational materials
and programs for farmers, ranchers and other target
audiences; and
■ Build and enhance partnerships for increasing research,
education, technology transfer and adoption.
SUMMARYIt is clear that drought and extreme precipitation will
increase in the coming years due to a changing climate. It is
also clear that farmers and ranchers can achieve resilience
to extreme weather by increasing their soil organic carbon
via soil health-promoting practices. The Soil Health Institute
will ensure research, programs and tools engage farmers
and ranchers in practices that enhance their soil health.