• Oregon Department of Agriculture Fertilizer Research Grant

• Natural Resources Conservation Service

• Benton Soil & Water Conservation Dist.• Soil & Water Conservation Society

Oregon Branch

WELCOME & THANKS

Soil Quality AssessmentsTeresa Matteson

The capacity of a soil to:• Sustain plant and animal productivity.• Maintain or enhance water and air quality.• Support human health and habitation.

Define Soil Quality

Why Soil Quality?

1. Land management impacts Soil Quality - for better or for worse.

2. Field & Lab assessments encourage informed management decisions that:

• Lower production costs• Reduce environmental impacts• Build soil capital

Take Home Messages

Management and Soil Quality

Soil Organisms

Soil Structure

Organic Matter

Water Infiltration

Vegetation

Soil Quality

Soil Quality Assessment• Field Observations• Laboratory Tests

WV Soil Quality Card

Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card (EM 8711)

Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card Guide (EM 8710)

Online at OSU Extension publications

Do this at HOME!!!

NRCS SQ Test Kithttp://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/test_kit.html

Do this at HOME!!!A simple set of tools to measure infiltration.

Infiltration = Pore Space = Compaction

Water Infiltration

1. Reduces erosion2. Minimizes water pollution3. Increases irrigation efficiency4. Prevents flooding5. Is cost effective

• Field Observations• Laboratory Tests

Get to know your soil better!

Sample Collection

10 shovels of soil = composite sample10 compaction readings

Lab AssessmentsAnswer is in the BAG!

SQP Report$100/sample

• Weeds• Bare soil• Hx: Intensive till• No OM inputs

Sample ID#23

Sampling Date

Field Agent

Field Soil Texture

sandy loam

Management

Value Units Range for SQP soils Constraints

Soil Textural Class 73 % sand

16 % silt

11 % clay

Aggregate Stability 10 % 5-89 aeration, infiltration, rooting, crusting

Surface Hardness 545 psi 9-575 root growth, water transmission

Subsurface Hardness 628 psi 55-628 rooting at depth

Organic Matter 1.1 % 1.0-11.5energy, C storage, water and nutrient holding

Active Carbon 145 mg/kg soil (ppm)

98-901organic material to support biological functions

Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen 0.0

ppm N per day at

22 oC0.04 - 0.66 ability to supply N

Recommended ranges west of the Cascades - check crop fertilizer guide.

Extractable Phosphorus 17 ppm 4-242low < 20; medium 20-40;

high 40-100; excessive >100

Extractable Potassium 129 ppm 102-1070low <150; medium 150-250;

high 250-800; excessive >800

Extractable Calcium 1400 ppm 1400-4739low <1000; medium 1000-2000;

high >2000

Extractable Magnesium 391 ppm 123-874 low <60; medium 60-180; high >180

pH 6.7 4.8-7.4Most crops grow best in soil pH between 6.0-7.5

Bio

logi

cal

Che

mic

al

fallow

Indicators

Phys

ical

n/asandy loam

weeds and bare soil

Soil Quality Assessment ReportName of Farmer Farm name

Farm LocationOR

Field ID per farmer GPS Coordinates

Last Crops Grown

SQP Report

• Row crop rotation• 20 yr OM• Cultivation

Sample ID#1

Sampling Date

Field Agent

Field Soil Texture

loam

Management

Value Units Range for SQP soils Constraints

Soil Textural Class 36 % sand

39 % silt

25 % clay

Aggregate Stability 27 % 5-89

Surface Hardness 38 psi 9-575

Subsurface Hardness 178 psi 55-628

Organic Matter 6.6 % 1.0-11.5

Active Carbon 1151 mg/kg soil (ppm)

98-901

Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen 1.6

ppm N per day at

22 oC0.04 - 0.66

Recommended ranges west of the Cascades - check crop fertilizer guide.

Extractable Phosphorus 201 ppm 4-242low < 20; medium 20-40;

high 40-100; excessive >100

Extractable Potassium 1260 ppm 102-1070low <150; medium 150-250;

high 250-800; excessive >800

Extractable Calcium 3700 ppm 1400-4739low <1000; medium 1000-2000;

high >2000

Extractable Magnesium 542 ppm 123-874 low <60; medium 60-180; high >180

pH 7.1 4.8-7.4Most crops grow best in soil pH between 6.0-7.5

Bio

logi

cal

Che

mic

al

subsoil 1 x per year; disk; rotovate; veg residues left standing; garlic undercutter; deep tillage passes 1-2/year

Indicators

Phys

ical

n/aloam

mixed vegetable crops

Soil Quality Assessment ReportName of Farmer Farm name

Farm LocationOR

GOOD SQ DEMO

Field ID per farmer GPS Coordinates

Last Crops Grown

CompactionSOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Dickey-john compaction tester

Maximum pressure in two depth ranges:

0-6 inches6-18 inches

Compaction

Pores spaces are where plant roots get air, water, and nutrients. Soil compaction decreases valuable pore space between soil particles.

Uncompacted soil Compacted soil

pore space

soil particles

Adapted from Sulzman and Frey, 2003

Decrease in pore spaces are where plants get air, water, and nutrients.

Adapted from Sulzman and Frey, 2003

Field Assessment

Less Greater

Compaction

Field Observations

Try this at home!

Test yourcompaction!

Use what you have:• Fingers• Shovel• Pin flag• Rod

Why Compaction?

• EROSION! 500 yrs = 1 in. top soil

• INFILTRATION!

• CO$T!!!! Production Environment

Three steps of water erosion

Most erosion is initiated by the impact of raindrops, NOT by the flow of running water

USA 1930’s Dust Bowl

Wikipedia… “The phenomenon was caused by severe drought coupled with decades of extensive farming without crop rotation, fallow fields, cover crops or other techniques to prevent wind erosion.[1] Deep plowing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains had displaced the natural deep-rooted grasses that normally kept the soil in place and trapped moisture even during periods of drought and high winds.”

Ways to Improve Soil

• Reduce disturbance• Work soil when dry• Avoid compaction• Add organic materials

Mulch soil surface Cover crops

Soil Quality Network

Get on the Map!June 2013

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust

Betsiboka River, MadagascarVia Space Shuttle

Teresa MattesonBenton SWCD541-753-7208

tmattson@bentonswcd.org

Thanks for attending this Soil Health Workshop!