Organic Matter: The Key to Healthy Soils

1. Organic Matter The key to healthy soils Fred Magdoff Dept. of Plant & Soil Science University of Vermont

2. Are these problems or symptoms? compact soil low nutrient levels droughty many pest problems erosion and runoff

3. Symptoms Problem compact soil Degraded and unhealthy soil low nutrient levels droughty many pest problems erosion and runoff

4. Why are soils which in our father’s hands were productive now relatively impoverished?

5. The 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

6. Soil organic matter and its management are at the heart of soil health

7. Characteristics of Healthy Soils • Sufficient (but not excess) nutrients • Good tilth • Sufficient depth • Good water storage and drainage • Free of chemicals that might harm plants

8. Characteristics of Healthy Soils • Low populations of plant disease and parasitic organisms • High populations of organisms that help plant growth • Low weed pressure • Resistance to being degraded • Resilience

9. Sustainable Agriculture Healthy Plants Healthy Soils Soil Organic Matter

10. There are three general “types” of organic matter in soils • Living • Dead • Very Dead

11. plant roots bacteria nematodes —Living — fungi earthworms mites springtails moles

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13. fungi competition.mov

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19. High disturbance • Tillage • Burning • Steam sterilization • Fumigants • Herbicides • Fungicides • Insecticides • Monoculture • Overgrazing Soil ecology in balance Tighter system More fluid / greater biological diversity • Crop rotation • Build organic matter • Low disturbance • Direct seeding • Permanent planting • Cover cropping • Soil fertility / slow nutrient release • Manure / biosolids • Neutral pH • Infiltration • Drainage • Irrigation management • Moisture conservation • Residue cover MANAGEMENT PRACTICES INFLUENCE ECOLOGY Changing ecology of system Imbalance in species Some groups increasing in number; some groups eliminated

20. —Dead — Recently dead soil organisms and crop residues provide the food (energy and nutrients) for soil organisms to live and function. Also called “active” or “particulate” organic matter.

22. Karen Hills, 2007

23. —Very Dead — Well decomposed organic materials, also called humus. Humus contains very high amounts of negative charge.

24. All three “types” of soil organic matter play important roles in helping produce high yields of healthy crops.

25. Soil organic matter living 10-20% Organic matter is 1-6% of total soil mass humus (very dead) 60-80% active (dead) 10-20%

26. Organic Matter Influences a Vast Number of Important Soil Properties For Example: • Nutrient availability • Aggregation (and infiltration and drainage) • Water storage • Diversity and activity of soil organisms • Soil color • Presence of growth stimulating compounds • Important global cycles — carbon, nitrogen, and water — are strongly influenced by soil organic matter

27. Nutrient Availability

28. As organic matter is decomposed nutrients are transformed into forms that are available to plants.

29. From 50% to close to 100% of the CEC is due to soil organic matter

30. Organic matter level 20 16 12 8 4 0 7% CEC due to organic matter (me/100g soil) 5% 3% 1% 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 pH

31. Cation Exchange Capacity and chelation

32. Corn grown in nutrient solution with (right) and without (left) humic acids. Photo by R. Bartlett.

33. Soil Tilth

36. infiltration runoff a) aggregated soil b) soil crusts after aggregates break down

39. Root heavily infected with mycorrhizal fungi (note round spores at the end of some hyphae). Photo by Sara Wright.

40. Sticky substance, glomalin, surrounding root heavily infected with mycorrhizal fungi. Photo by Sara Wright.

41. Sticky substance, glomalin, surrounding soil aggregates. Photo by Sara Wright.

42. respiration in stems and leaves root respiration and soil organic matter decomposition photosynthesis crop harvest crop and animal residues erosion carbon in soil organic matter carbon dioxide (CO2) (0.04% in the atmosphere) The role of soil organic matter in the carbon cycle.Losses of carbon from the field are indicated by yellow color around the words describing the process.

43. Karen Hills, 2007

44. Add organic matter Increased biological activity (& diversity) Reduced soil-borne diseases, parasitic nematodes Aggregation increased Decomposition Pore structure improved Nutrients released Humus and other growth promoting substances Harmful substances detoxified Improved tilth and water storage HEALTHY PLANTS

45. 160 y = 82.3x - 54.9 140 r2 = .78 120 100 Yield (Bu/A) 80 60 40 20 .8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 Soil organic matter (%) Relationship of corn yield and soil organic matter at the end of a long term cropping experiment

46. Two conditions are necessary to maintain an adequate amount of organic matter in the soil. These are, first, an adequate supply, and second, avoidance of a too-rapid loss... – Lyon and Fippin. 1909.