soil problems & solutions

7/30/2019 Soil Problems & Solutions

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Problems and Solutionsby Tom Gibsonwww.camaspermaculture.org

All over the country [some soils are] worn out,depleted, exhausted, almost dead. But here is

comfort: These soils possess possibilities and may berestored to high productive power, provided you do a

few simple things. C.W. BURKETT, 1907
http://www.camaspermaculture.org/http://www.camaspermaculture.org/


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Definition of Soil*SOILthe natural medium in which plants grow.

This definition, however, may be a little too simple. Heres a better one:

SOILa natural body that develops in profile form from a mixture ofminerals and organic matter. It covers the earth in a very thin layer and

supplies plants with air, water, nutrients, and mechanical support.

Our definition is, of course, the one we prefer:

SOILa living, dynamic system atthe interface between air and rock.Soil forms in response to forces ofclimate and organisms that act onparent material in a specific landscape over a long period oftime.

*Oregon State University Extension Service-Manual for Judging

Oregon Soils.


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Soil Components

MineralMatterPore Space

OrganicMatter

Making a poor garden better often begins with the soil. If yourgarden soil is poor, consider giving it some help. Adding organicmaterials to sandy soils improves their nutrient- and water-holdingcapacity. Adding organic materials to clay soil improves drainageand aeration, and helps the soil dry out and warm up more quicklyin the spring.


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Conventional

AgricultureIntensive tillage, soil erosion and insufficient

added residuesSoil organic matter decreasesSurface becomes compacted, crust formsMost soil organic matter is lostCrop yields decline

Aggregates break downErosion by wind and water increasesLess soil water storage, less diversity of soil

organism, fewer nutrients for plants


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The soilecosystem

Residue decompositionNutrient cyclingAggregation and porosityEnhance plant growthBreak down contaminants


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Bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, earthworms

Pictures courtesy M. Fauci and D. Bezdice

Soil Organisms


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Energy and nutrition in soils starts with organic matter. Maintaining organic

matter helps soils release other nutrition through chemical action of humic acids

and chemicals created by life forms that depend on organic matter.


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Many plants develop a beneficial relationship with fungi that increases the contact

of roots with the soil. Fungi infect the roots and send out root like structures calledhyphae. The hyphae of these mycorrhizal fungi take up waterand nutrients that

can then feed the plant. This is especially important for phosphorus nutrition of

plants in low-phosphorus soils. The hyphae help the plant absorb water and

nutrients and in return the fungi receive energy in the form of sugars, which the

plant produces in its leaves and sends down to the roots.

Root heavily infected with mycorrhizal fungi

(note round spores at the end of some hyphae).

Photo by Sara Wright.

The Soil Food Web


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Water MovementHow quickly water moves through soil

Water Holding CapacityHow much water a soil can holdavailable for plant growth

Soil air and water

The plow is one of the most ancient and

most valuable of mans inventions; but long

before he existed the land was in fact

regularly ploughed, and continues to

be thus ploughed by earthworms.

CHARLES DARWIN, 1881


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Pore space and air-water relationsSoil acts like a sponge

Macro pores control infiltration and drainage

Capillary pores control water holding capacity

Micro pores hold unavailable water

Why are soils which in our fathers hands

were productive now relatively impoverished?

J. L. HILLS, C. H. JONES, AND C. CUTLER, 1908


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Soil properties thataffect porosity

Soil textureSoil structure

Compaction and disturbance

Organic matter


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Soil Particle

SizesSand .05-2 mm

Silt.002-.05 mmClay 2 mm


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Approximate surface areas of

1 gram samples

Coarse sand Half Dollar

Fine clay Basketball court

Under the microscope, clay particles resemble playing cards inform. They are flat, hexagonal, and thin, like cards. Whenwet, the particles can 'slip' across each other, as in a deck ofcards.


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with methods of farming in which grasses form an important part of the

rotation, especially those that leave a large residue of roots and culms, the

decline of the productive power is much slower than when crops like wheat,

cotton, or potatoes, which leave little residue on the soil, are grown

continuously. HENRY SNYDER, 1896

Soil Minerals

W t K S D I


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W at K n o So Do Ihave?TextureStructure

Compaction

Organic matter

The soil-fist test can be used to determine soil type. Compact wet soil in your fist to

determine whether it is sandy, loam, or clay/silt. If it is sandy soil, it will refuse to form

itself into a ball in your fist. If it is loamy, it will form itself into a ball, but remain friable

so that it will crumble when poked with your finger. Clay/silty soil will form into a ball

that has sufficient plasticity that it will remain a ball when poked with a finger. The more

clay you have in your soil the longer the ribbon you can squeeze out.


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Texture

Structure

Compaction

Organic

matterThe depletion of the soil humus supply is apt to be

a fundamental cause of lowered crop yields.

J.H. HILLS, C.H. JONES, AND C. CUTLER, 1908


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Aggregation of sand, silt, and clay particles

Structure affects:Macro porosityInfiltration

Aeration


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Formation of soil structureGrowth of roots and movement of organisms create pores

and aggregates

Soil organisms break down organic residues, producingglues that stabilize aggregates

Fungi provide structural support to aggregates

Physical, chemical processes also involved

Moisture, warmth, and aeration; soil texture; soil fitness; soil organisms; its tillage,

drainage and irrigation; all these are quite as important factors in the make up

and maintenance of the fertility of the soil as are manures, fertilizers, and soil

amendments. J.L. HILLS, C.H. JONES, AND C. CUTLER, 1908


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Structure FactorsTexture

Structure

CompactionOrganic matter

Because organic matter is lost from the soil through decay, washing, and leaching,

and because large amounts are required every year for crop production, the necessity

of maintaining the active organic-matter content of the soil, to say nothing of the

desirability of increasing it on many depleted soils, is a difficult problem.

--A. F. GUSTAFSON, 1941


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Human compaction:

ClearingConstructionTrafficLivestock

Natural compaction:

Basal glacial tillVery compact.Nearlyimpermeable.


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Improving SoilsTexture

Structure

Compaction

Organic

matterWhere no kind of manure is to be had, I think the cultivation of lupines will be foundthe readiest and best substitute. If they are sown about the middle of September in

a poor soil, and then plowed in, they will answer as well as the best manure.

COLUMELLA, 1st Century, Rome


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Using animal manure

safelyIncorporate manure intosoil before planting.

Wait AT LEAST 120 days

between application offresh manure and harvest.

Well aged (>six months)and thoroughly compostedmanure do not havepathogen risk.

Dont use cat, dog or swinemanure.


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Why is organic

matter important?Structure andmacropores

Water holdingcapacityInfiltration

Nutrient supplyBiological activity

Improved root environment


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How does topography affect soil

water?

generally, the type of soil management that gives the greatest immediate

return leads to a deterioration of soil productivity, whereas the type that

provides the highest income over the period of a generation leads to the

maintenance or improvement of productivity.

CHARLES KELLOGG, 1936


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MicronutrientsBoron

Iron

Manganese

Zinc

Copper

Chloride

Molybdenum

Plant NutrientsMajor NutrientsNitrogen

Phosphorus

PotassiumCalcium

Magnesium

Sulfur

About 90 nutrients found in soils are thought to affect health of

animals and humans.


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Bern Kohler, Ohio State Univ.

Chlorophyll -photosynthesis

Plant and Soil Sciences, UNebraska

Amino acids andproteins

DNA

Amino Acid


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Nutrient Deficiencies

Reduce plantgrowth, health, and

yield.Nutrient deficienciescan sometimes be

identified byobserving symptoms.

P deficiency in corn

Mg deficiency in corn


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Problems with excess

nutrientsNitrogen:

Plant health, fruit yield andquality

Groundwater qualityBoron:Toxicity


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Mineral Matter

Organic Matter


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Mineral Matter

KMgCa

Organic Matter

N

S P

Nutrient

sGenerallyNot

availabl

e


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Notavailable

N

SP

soluble,available

KMgCa

K+ Ca++

Weathering


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KMgCa

K+

Ca++

soluble, available

WeatheringN

SP

Notavailable

Biological release

NH4+

SO4-2


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Fertilizer Labels 5 - 10 - 10

% N - % phosphate -% potashPhosphate = units of P

1 lb P = 2.3 lb phosphate (P2O

5)

Potash = units of K

1 lb K = 1.2 lb potash (K2O)


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How much fertilizer do I use?

Fertilizer should be added after determiningwhat the available amount of nutrition is.

The available amount is often less than thetotal amount.

Available phosphorous in the spring is oftenhigher than the input amount after adding

manure in the fall. Manure increases thebiological activity in soil which liberatesphosphate and other minerals that arelocked up.


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Soil pHIndicates relative acidity or

alkalinitypH 7 = neutral; less than 7 = acid;

more than 7 = alkaline or basic

Logarithmic scale

Adapted from library.thinkquest.org


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Why is pH important?Nutrient availability

Availability of toxic metals

Microbiological activity

Acids in soils generally result in higher levels of metals

being available to plants like copper, a necessary

nutrient for blueberries. Can also cause heavy metals

that are toxic to humans and other animals to be more

available. The widest amount of biological activity is

seen in soils that have a near neutral pH.


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Soil AcidificationA natural process in humid areas

Accelerated by fertilizersSulfur and ammonium sulfate arestrong acidifiers

Has a tendency to leach calcium andother rock minerals from soil


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Desirable pH RangesVegetables 6 to 7.5

Pastures 5.5 to 8Acid loving plants 4.5 to 5.5


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Increasing pHLime (CaCO3) neutralizes acidity

Lime supplies Ca, which is oftendeficient in acid soils

Dolomite lime also supplies MgMagnesium may raise pH six times

faster than calcium

Apply lime based on soil test, andlime only those crops that need it.For gardens without soil test: 50

lb/1000 sq ft/year


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Taking a Sample1. Dont wait until the last minute. The best time to sample for a general soil

test is usually in the fall. Spring samples should be taken early enough to

have results in time to properly plan nutrient management for the crop

season.

2. Take cores from at least 15 to 20 spots randomly over the field to obtain a

representative sample. One sample should not represent more than 10 to

20 acres.

3. Sample between rows. Avoid old fence rows, dead furrows, and other

spots that are not representative of the whole field.

4. Take separate samples from problem areas, if they can be treated

separately.

5. In cultivated fields, sample to plow depth.


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Taking a Sample6. Take two samples from no-till fields: one to a 6-inch depth for lime and

fertilizer recommendations, and one to a 2-inch depth to monitor surface

acidity.

7. Sample permanent pastures to a 3- to 4-inch depth.

8. Collect the samples in a clean container.

9. Mix the core samplings, remove roots and stones, and allow to air dry.

10. Fill the soil-test mailing container.

11. Complete the information sheet, giving all of the information requested.

Remember, the recommendations are only as good as the information

supplied.

12. Sample fields at least every three years. Annual soil tests will allow youto fine-tune nutrient management and may allow you to cut down on

fertilizer use.

MODIFIED FROM THE PENNSTATE AGRONOMY GUIDE, 1999.


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A & L Labs

Complete Soil Test - 503-968-9225

http://www.al-labs-west.com

Kinsey Agricultural Services

Soil fertility problems/Albrecht Method (feed the soil)

http://www.kinseyag.com/

WyEast Environmental Services

Soil Lead Test - 503-231-9320http://www.wyeastlab.net


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Many soils require irrigation for

maximum productivity. Both theamount of

irrigation water needed and the proper

method of applying it depend on asoils permeability rate and water-

holding capacity.


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Installing an irrigation system can save money/water and increase yields. It

can also mitigate pest and disease problems caused by over or improper

watering.

Drip or weep hose irrigation will maximize delivery of water and nutrients to

the root zone while minimizing splashing and watering that causes disease.

You can build simple effective systems with off the shelf components from

hardware stores. A typical drip system can easily recapture the entire cost in a

single season by limiting excessive watering while ensuring plants get the

needed resources.

Best results will occur with the use of some kind of mechanical or electronic

control system that measures the water or the amount of time the water is

allowed to run.


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Thank YouMaterial provided by:Dr. Craig Cogger-WSU/NRCS, Puyallup

Dr. Charles Brun-WSU Extension Clark County

Kinsey Agricultural ServicesNational Center for Appropriate Technology

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Additional ResourcesUSDA National Agricultural Library

http://www.nal.usda.gov/Building Soils for Better Crops

http://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdf
http://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdfhttp://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdfhttp://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdfhttp://www.sare.org/publications/bsbc/bsbc.pdf


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Soil Survey of Clark County

http://soildatamart.nrcs.usda.gov/Manuscripts/WA011/0/wa011_text.pdfNRCS Soil Survey Explorerhttp://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

Guide to Soil Survey Reportshttp://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/Soil_survey_brochure.pdf

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE)http://www.sare.org/index.htm

Clayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

http://attra.ncat.org/soils.htmlOSU Extension Service-Improving Garden Soilhttp://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/grow/grow/soil.html

Soil and Health Libraryhttp://www.soilandhealth.org

Additional Resources
http://www.sare.org/index.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayhttp://attra.ncat.org/soils.htmlhttp://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/grow/grow/soil.htmlhttp://www.soilandhealth.org/http://www.soilandhealth.org/http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/grow/grow/soil.htmlhttp://attra.ncat.org/soils.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayhttp://www.sare.org/index.htm

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