Alan Sundermeier and Dr. Vinayak Shedekar - Soil biological Response to BMPs
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This document summarizes the results of soil health tests conducted on five fields with different tillage and cover cropping histories. Biological, chemical, and physical soil health indicators such as microbial biomass, soil organic matter, active carbon, and bulk density showed improved soil health in fields that were no-tilled or had cover crops for longer durations compared to conventionally tilled fields or fields with shorter cover cropping histories. Long-term no-till and cover cropping practices increased soil organic matter, microbial activity, and nutrient availability and decreased bulk density compared to conventional tillage systems.
Alan Sundermeier and Dr. Vinayak Shedekar - Soil biological Response to BMPs
- 1. Soil Biological Response to BMP’s For more information, contact: Alan Sundermeier, Wood County Extension, OSU ([email protected]) Vinayak Shedekar, Food, Ag. Biol. Engineering Dept., OSU ([email protected]) Funding support North Central Region SARE Partnership Grant Program Healthy Soil Healthy Environment Extension Signature Program
- 3. • A vibrant healthy soil consists of a matrix of biology that directly links with the supply of nutrients, soil structural integrity and plant disease defense
- 4. What does a healthy soil consist of? • Sufficient nutrients • Good tilth • Sufficient rooting depth • Good drainage • Few pathogens • Beneficial soil biota • Low weed pressure • No harmful chemical/toxins to crop • Resilience to degradation
- 5. Measuring soil health – properties • Inherent properties cannot be improved/altered – Soil texture – Slope – Climate – Parent material – Depth to bedrock – Drainage class • Dynamic properties can be improved – Organic matter – pH – Compaction layer – Disease pressure • Soil Health Testing Focuses on Dynamic
- 6. Ideal Soil Composition { } Pore space 50% Solids 50% 25% Water 25% Air 5% Organic Matter 45% Inorganic (mineral materials) Brady & Weil, 2008
- 7. Most important to soil quality is the active SOM fraction (10 to 35%) which is composed of partially decomposed plant and animal residues, microbial biomass and metabolites. Active C fraction Passive C fraction Soil organic matter Most of what’s left is the passive SOM fraction which is resistant to microbial decomposition.
- 8. ACTIVE CARBON The residence time of active carbon is estimated to be 2 to 5 years, in contrast to recalcitrant C (e.g., humus) that has a turnover time of several hundred to thousands of years. Because of its relatively short turnover time, active carbon is more sensitive to management changes affecting soil carbon in agro-ecosystems than total organic carbon (TOC). Active carbon may be used as an indicator of change produced by cropping and soil management practices that manipulate SOM content.
- 9. 1420 1523 1141 1274 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 Active Carbon Carbonlbs/acre
- 10. Soil Biology • Active organic matter is available to soil organisms • Soil organisms decompose organic compounds, manure • Store nitrogen • Enhance soil aggregation • Prey on crop pests • Food source for higher trophic predators
- 11. Available from Soil & Water Conservation Society www.swcs.org
- 12. Soil Food Web First trophic level – get energy from sun: plants Second trophic level – organisms that eat first level: bacteria, fungi, nematodes Third level – eat organisms in second level: Protozoa, arthropods, nematodes So on: higher level predators, arthropods, birds, animals
- 14. Bacteria up to 50 billion Actinomycetes up to 2 billion Protozoa up to 50 million Fungus up to 100 million Nematodes 10,000 Arthropodes 1000 Earthworm 0 to 2 Relative amount of microbes in handful of soil
- 15. Solvita CO2 Burst Test The Solvita CO2 Burst Test is a new tool which easily and accurately measures soil biological CO2 respiration. Cost = $25.00
- 16. Indicator of soil health – The rates of CO2 release is generally regarded as an indicator of Soil Health and is favorably improved with practices such as cover cropping
- 17. Solvita CO2 Basal Respiration • Measure the CO2 at field moisture conditions • Uses paddle to trap CO2 • Uses color system to measure
- 19. Solvita Field test NW Branch 6-May 18-May 3-Jun Multi 5.66 4.11 5.24 Tillage 4.32 4.74 4.74 Winter Pea 5.52 5.66 5.24 Sod 5.94 5.52 5.52 No cover 3.64 4.32 4.42 Red Clover 5.1 5.94 5.24 CO2-C Burst test Multi 111.3 23.2 73 Tillage 28.9 43.9 43.9 Winter Pea 96.6 111.3 73 Sod 148 96.6 96.6 No cover 14.5 28.9 31.8 Red Clover 62.8 148 73
- 20. Solvita Nitrogen Mineralization, no cover crop Solvita Field Test Color Number, 0 to 6.5 3.64 color Your average soil temperature 65° f Number of days in your crop's growing season 120 days Adjusted CO2-C based on the entered soil temp above 13 LBS/Acre Likely Organic Nitrogen Mineralized over growing season 44 LBS/Acre Dollars Saved Per Acre for 200 Bushel Per Hectare for 12.5 metric tons Corn* $21.32 65120
- 21. Solvita Nitrogen Mineralization, Multi-species cover crop Solvita Field Test Color Number, 0 to 6.5 5.66 color Your average soil temperature 65° f Number of days in your crop's growing season 120 days Adjusted CO2-C based on the entered soil temp above 101 LBS/Acre Likely Organic Nitrogen Mineralized over growing season 158 LBS/Acre Dollars Saved Per Acre for 200 Bushel Per Hectare for 12.5 metric tons Corn* $76.00 65120
- 22. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Multi Till Winter Pea Sod No cover Red Clover lbs/acreofCO2 6-May 18-May 3-Jun Treatment Sample dates Soil Respiration Field Test - Solvita
- 23. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Multi-species Tillage Winter Pea sod No cover Red Clover SoilNitrateppm 5/8/2015 5/20/2015 6/8/2015 Soil Nitrate Availability
- 24. 54 18 18 41 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 24 hour Soil Respiration CO2ppmCarbon
- 25. 62 49 30 46 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 Available NitrogenPounds/acre
- 26. PLFA test Soil biological testing at Ward Laboratories is conducted by analyzing phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA). It allows us to identify various functional groups of interest through known PLFA biomarkers with respect to microbial community. Cost = $ 59.50
- 28. 1395 2497 976 1569 165 584 125 285 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 PLFA Bacteria PLFA Fungi
- 29. 3640 2821 1804 3053 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 Microbial Biomass PLFATotalng/g
- 30. Haney soil test The Haney Test is a dual extraction procedure that allows the producer to assess overall soil health. The test is used to track changes in soil health based on management decisions. This test examines total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen to determine a C:N ratio used to make general cover crop recommendations. This test also includes the Solvita CO2 Burst Test to look at microbial activity and potentially mineralizable nitrogen. The weak acid (H3A) extraction represents some available plant nutrients. Cost = $49.50
- 31. 4.6 3.4 3.1 3.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 Organic Matter LOI %
- 32. 143 73 109 119 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 WEOC water extract organic carbon, ppm
- 33. Source: The International Plant Institute Water extractable Inorganic N Water extractable Organic N Water extractable total N
- 34. 14.9 8.9 10.4 11.3 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 WEON water extract organic nitrogen , ppm
- 35. 9.76 4.16 4.98 7.6 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 clay + cover loam + cover loam loam + cover+ manure site 1 site 1 site 2 site 2 Soil Health Score
- 36. By Jerry Grigar, USDA-NRCS, East Lansing, MI; Jerry L. Hatfield, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, IA; and Randall Reeder, The Ohio State University 15 November 2018 SoilHealth.osu.edu Transitional no‐till: What is it and how does it differ from ‘true’ no‐till?
- 37. Site Summary Five Different Fields with different history of tillage & Cover crops 1. CT noCC: Conventionally tilled – no Cover Crops 2. 2Yr CC: Recently transitioned to Cover Crops 3. 10Yr Hay: Under hay for 10 years 4. LT CC: 20 to 30 years of cover crops 5. LT CC: 30 to 40 years of cover crops
- 38. Chemical Indicators 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC lbs/acre Ward Lab Avail N Avail P2O5 Avail K2O 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC lbs/acre A&L Lab NO3-N+NH4-N bray P
- 39. Physical Indicators 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC Bulk Density (g/cm3) A B C
- 40. Biological Indicators 0 10 20 30 40 50 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC BR (lbs/ton/day) A B C 0 1000 2000 3000 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC SMB (lbs/ton) A B C Total Soil Microbial Biomass Microbial basal respiration Specific maintenance respiration (C catabolized per unit of microbes) 0 10 20 30 40 50 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC qCO2 (mg/g/day) A B C Analysis by OSU Lab
- 41. Soil Respiration Respiration - How much CO2 is released per pound of microbes in the soil. Notill and long-term cover crop systems are more efficient in terms of respiration and using the Carbon than the tillage system.
- 42. PLFA – assessing microbial biomass A well-functioning, healthy soil would contain higher amounts of microbes which provide nutrients to crops and naturally control some soil-borne pests and diseases. Tillage destroys the soil environment needed to maintain soil microbes. Best management practices with no-till can exceed microbial biomass amounts found in baseline sod
- 43. Bacteria – Fungi Relationship Increases in fungal-to-bacterial ratio under the long-term No till and cover crops. As the ratio of fungi to bacteria increases, the soil biome becomes more efficient in utilizing carbon and other nutrients and the soil therefore releases LESS CO2 to the atmosphere
- 44. Biological Indicators 84 324 378 489 620 739 1581 2578 1738 2757 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC PLFA(ng/mg) Fungi Bacteria PLFA Analysis by Ward Lab
- 45. Soil Organic Matter 2.3 2.7 3.7 3.0 4.3 0 1 2 3 4 5 CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC SOM (%) – from Labs WardLab A&Llab OSULab 304 1229 1112 1039 1181 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC Active Carbon (ppm) – in Field Active C analysis conducted using a pre-commercialized version of Soil-1 Field Kit www.Soil1.com
- 46. Overall Soil Health Score 5.1 6.1 8.8 5.5 8.1 0 2 4 6 8 10 CT noCC 2Yr CC 10Yr Hay LT CC LT CC Analysis by Ward Lab
- 47. Site Summary Three Different Fields with different history of tillage & Cover crops 1. Sod, grass, 10 year undisturbed 2. Tillage, less than 30% residue, corn/soybean crops 3. No-till, corn/soybean crops, 20 years of multi-species cover crop
- 48. Biological Indicators Analysis by Ward Lab 1490 4710 5237 0 2000 4000 6000 Tillage Sod No-till PLFA, total biomass, ng/g Phospholipid Fatty Acid Total Living Microbial Biomass
- 49. Biological Indicators Analysis by Ward Lab 84 378 620 739 2578 2757 0 1000 2000 3000 Tillage Sod No-till ng/g Bacteria Fungi
- 50. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are important to healthy plant growth. These fungi live on plant roots and grow out into the soil to capture nutrients which roots cannot access. Fungi depend on the plant for sugars for survival. By not disrupting the soil, AMF can multiply rapidly. The AMF need to build a network of hyphae to reach soil nutrients. Tillage destroys this network resulting in low AMF measurements.
- 52. Soil Respiration – 24 hr CO2-Carbon 19.8 42.9 41.6 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Tillage Sod No-till ppm C
- 53. Organic Matter 2.3 3.7 4.3 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 Tillage Sod No-till % OM LOI
- 54. Active Carbon 304 1112 1181 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Tillage Sod No-till lb/acre www.Soil1.com Active C analysis conducted using a pre-commercialized version of Soil-1 Field Kit
- 55. Organic Matter trends Most soil health properties show a good correlation with organic matter. You can see the clear trend upward in organic matter as you go from tillage to no-till. Active carbon tells you how much of your organic matter is “Alive” or available for microbial activity?
- 56. Nitrate NO3 5.7 7 9.7 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Tillage Sod No-till ppm
- 57. Phosphorus, Bray P1 19.7 19 35 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Tillage Sod No-till ppm
- 58. Overall Soil Health Score Analysis by Ward Lab 5.1 8.8 8.1 0 2 4 6 8 10 Tillage Sod No-till
- 59. Analyzing Soil Health This is overall Soil Health Score from Ward Lab. You can see, that in general this shows the contrast between the Tillage System versus a No-till, Cover Cropped system. But, this may or may not tell you the whole story. The only way to know more about the overall health of your soil is – to dig a little! More than these lab results – you know your soils better – and with some experience, you should be able to figure out how a “healthy soil” looks and feels and smells.
- 60. Infiltration The downward entry of water into the soil. The velocity at which water enters the soil is infiltration rate.
- 62. Water Infiltration, Wood County 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 Organic Clover Wheat Conv. Soybean 2nd test 1st test Time in seconds 15 seconds 16 minutes 1 hour
- 63. Soil Health and Water Quality Funding support North Central Region SARE Partnership Grant Program Healthy Soil Healthy Environment Extension Signature Program Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference Alan Sundermeier, Wood Co Extension ([email protected]) Vinayak Shedekar, FABE ([email protected])