Why is fertile land important

Frequency of soil testing will depend on your purpose in testing and your situation. To track trends in macronutrients, pH and soil organic matter content, testing once every two or three years, or at a specific point in your rotation cycle, may be sufficient.

Timing of testing will also depend on the purpose of the test. To determine nutrient status of your soil for the upcoming season, test your soil in early spring. To test contents of nutrients with potential to leach over the winter, test in late summer. Soil organic matter content may not be a routine test, but can be requested. Soils can also be tested for micronutrients nutrients required by plants at relatively small quantities.

Soil testing laboratories use different soil testing methods that may generate different results. It is important to understand the methods used to generate your test results and use interpretation information that corresponds to that testing method. In addition, using the same testing laboratory for all your testing over time will allow you to compare your test results from year to year and track trends.

A soil test is only as good as the soil sample it evaluated. It is important to take a representative sample of the field and the soil volume the crop plant roots will explore to obtain nutrients. This is an eOrganic article and was reviewed for compliance with National Organic Program regulations by members of the eOrganic community.

Always check with your organic certification agency before adopting new practices or using new materials. For more information, refer to eOrganic's articles on organic certification. Organic Soil Fertility eOrganic authors:. Have a question? Subscribe to our newsletter. Connect with us!

Please join us! If you have experience and expertise in organic agriculture and would like to join our community and submit content for publication, contact us by creating an account at eOrganic. Wood ash 0—1—3 contains P and K, is a good source for micronutrients and acts as a liming agent. Commonly used in gardens; avoid over-application which can cause alkalinity and salt build up; avoid ash from treated wood or from the burning of manure.

While not fertilizers per se, there are a number of biological amendments used to promote biological activity or microbial associations between plants and soils with the intent of increasing plant nutrient uptake. Typically a mixture of crushed and ground bone that is high in phosphorus. N contents vary depending upon handling.

Range from ; ; Permitted as a soil amendment but can not be fed to animals in certified production. Blood, bone and meat meal are prohibited in many countries in Europe and Japan because of BSE transmission risk. Dried blood, is a soluble source of nitrogen. Typical N:P:K contents are Solubility can vary. Should be used carefully, release of ammonia can burn plants and lead to loss through volatilization. Use limitations are the same as bone meal above. CaSO 4. Good source for sulfur; useful for alkaline soils with high sodium content.

Avoid gypsum from recycled sheetrock. Cocoa shells are available in some regions. They are used as a source of potassium and are popular due to their slow release properties. Over application is perceived to be a problem in horticultural systems. Under application is an issue in some field crop systems.

Labs following the cation balance theory avoid the use of dolomitic limes, KCl, and oxide forms of trace elements. Feather meal can transmit the Avian flu, A H5N1 virus, which is relatively easily transmissible to animals and people.

Ranges in content from to ; suitable for foliar feeding of starts and the spot treatment of transplants; is reputed to prevent stress, stimulate root growth and provide cold protection. Fish products may also contain synthetic preservatives, stabilizers and other products prohibited under the NOP.

Granite dust is available in some regions. It is used as a source of potassium that is popular due to its slow release properties. A mined sandstone deposit typically or used as a source of potassium. Also contains iron, magnesium, silica and other trace minerals. Rapid reacting due to high solubility, valued source of Ca and liming where magnesium abundance is a concern and soil is not alkaline. High quality Ca OH 2 is a dry powder produced by reacting quicklime with a sufficient amount of water to satisfy the quicklime's natural affinity for moisture.

The National Organic Standards Board approved use of calcium hydroxide as a component of Bordeaux mix and lime sulfur for fungicide use, but does not allow its use as a soil amendment. Nutrient contents vary widely, it is recommended they be applied on the basis of phosphorus need. Use as an N source leads to over application of P.

Compost, if produced according to NOP requirements, can be applied any time during the growing season. Animal manure can only be used on crops for human consumption if it is incorporated into the soil at least days prior to harvest for crops that contasct the soil or 90 days prior to harvest for crops that do not contact the soil. K 2 SO 4 is a mined fertilizer not widely available. It has been used as a food preservative.

This is allowed under the NOP rules if you can prove you are using a mined source that has not been treated with acid or any other chemical reaction to make the potassium more available. This is a good choice for high Mg soils, but it is fairly reactive and must be used carefully.

Rock phosphates are frequently divided into hard rock and colloidal or soft rock forms. Marine sediments are typically ground and cleaned. Availability is low where soil pH is above 6 and biological activity is low.

Addition of manures can increase solubility. Contains Calcium and acts as a liming agent. Provide specific information about the common legumes used as forage. Describe the major differences between the plant families used as forages.

Provide the vocabulary needed to identify grasses. Provide the basic vocabulary for identifying legumes. Identify common species of forage. Provide practice in identifying common forages. Determine limitations to forage selection. Forage selection requires an understanding of species and cultivars.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of selecting mixtures. A model for forage selection Summary Exam References Establishment Overview Pre-Test Instructional Objectives Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture establishment Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pasture renovation.

Discuss the steps in seedbed preparation. Discuss the considerations of seed quality. Discuss the methods and timing of seeding. Discuss the purpose and wise utilization of companion crops. Instructional Objectives Explain why producers and the public should be concerned about weeds.

Describe several ways in which weeds cause forage crop and animal production losses. Describe methods in determining quality List several poisonous plants found on croplands, pasturelands, rangelands, and forests. Describe the five general categories of weed control methods. Describe the concept of Integrated Pest Management and how it applies to weed control.

Distinguish between selective and non-selective herbicides and give an example of each. Describe how weeds are categorized by life cycle and how this is correlated with specific control methods. Describe conditions that tend to favor weed problems in pastures and describe how to alleviate these conditions. Describe several common weed control practices in alfalfa production. List printed and electronic sources of weed control information.

List local, regional, and national sources of weed control information. Describe the impact of defoliation on grass plants. Discuss how grasses regrow. Discuss how livestock interaction impacts grass growth. Discuss grass growth in mixed stands. Discuss the practical applications of regrowth mechanisms. References Fertilization Overview Pre-Test Instructional Objectives Discuss the importance of soil fertility and the appropriate use of fertilization. Define and discuss the nitrogen cycle. Discuss the major elements needed for good soil fertility and plant growth.

Define and discuss micronutrients. Discuss the uses and methods of liming. Older leaves turn dark green or reddish-purple. Osmotic balance. Older leaves may wilt or look burned. Yellowing between veins begins at the base of leaf and goes inward from the leaf edges. Cell structure. When severe, leaves will be necrotic near the base. Leaves can be cupped downward.

Occurs more often at low pH. Chlorophyll, enzyme activation. Older leaves will turn yellow and brown around the edge of the leaf leaving a green center. May appear puckered. SO 4 Yellowing leaves starts with younger leaves. Enzyme function, required for chlorophyll production. Yellowing between veins that start with younger leaves. Occurs more often at high pH. Enzyme component.

Pattern is not as distinct as with Fe deficiency, may appear in patches or freckled. Yellowing between veins of younger leaves. Terminal leaves may be rosette. Cell wall. Terminal buds die.

Light general yellowing. B requirements are very plant specific. Enzyme function.