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What Makes Soil Good

What Makes Soil Good. Analysis of soils assists an agricultural land brokerage professional estimate the economic potential of the land. 3-1. Objectives. Identify macro and micro nutrients in soil Soil texture, structure, and consistence Identify horizons in soil profiles

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What Makes Soil Good

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  1. What Makes Soil Good • Analysis of soils assists an agricultural land brokerage professional estimate the economic potential of the land 3-1

  2. Objectives • Identify macro and micro nutrients in soil • Soil texture, structure, and consistence • Identify horizons in soil profiles • NCRS capability classification system • Resources to analyze agricultural property 3-2

  3. Important Concepts for Soils Analysis • Four major components of soil • Mineral components develop from parent material • Organic matter • Ingredients that make soil solution • Biological Activity • Plants draw six macronutrients from soil 3-3

  4. Important Concepts of Soils Analysis (cont.) • Trace elements or micronutrients • N-P-K designation for fertilizer • Soil deficiencies develop from shortages • Characteristics of soils • Texture depends on individual particles • Structure groups soil textures 3-4

  5. Establishing Soil Texture • Coarse soils - loose and very friable • Moderately coarse soils - hold together when moist • Medium soils - feel velvety • Moderately fine soils - form clods • Fine soils - form hard clods 3-5

  6. Soil Structures • Four distinct structures • Platy soils - flat plate-like soil • Prismlike - flat and well defined • Blocklike - six-sided blocks of aggregate • Spheroidal - granular and round 3-6

  7. Consistence • Loose - noncoherent • Very friable - crush under very gentle pressure • Friable - crush under gentle pressure • Firm - crushed with moderate pressure • Very firm - requires strong pressure • Extremely firm - resists crushing 3-7

  8. Group Activity 3-1 3-8

  9. Acidity • Critical to agricultural activities • Calcium deficiency contributes • Measured by pH level • 7 is neutral • Most crops prosper with 6.5 to 7 pH 3-9

  10. Soil Depth 3-10

  11. Slope 3-11

  12. Erosion 3-12

  13. Horizons • Layers determine the characteristics • Four major horizons • O horizons • A horizons • B horizons • C horizons 3-13

  14. Understanding Soil Surveys • NRCS • System of eight capability classes • Suitability of soil for cultivation • Classes based on limitations • NRCS system includes several subclasses • NRCS publishes surveys at the county level 3-14

  15. SoilClasses • Class I - most desirable • Class II - have some limitations • Class III - permanent limitations • Class IV - marginally suited to cultivation • Class V - fewer erosion hazards • Class VI - similar restrictions to class IV • Class VII - similar to limitations of Class VI • Class VIII - cannot be used 3-15

  16. Factors limiting Soil Productivity 3-16

  17. Factors limiting Soil Productivity(cont..) 3-17

  18. Factors limiting Soil Productivity (cont.) 3-18

  19. Soil Surveys Contents • Soil Map • Description of formation • Description of soils • Use and management • Classification of the soils • Extensive Glossary 3-19

  20. Soil Surveys • Assign compound names • First name indicates soil series • Second name indicates texture • Characteristics common to subject area • Permits identification of soils • Quality and detail of information varies 3-20

  21. Agricultural Production Capabilities • Production depends on structure • Dominant textures • Topsoil depth • Rooting depth • Soil fertility • Slope characteristics 3-21

  22. Soil Capability Classes • Iowa State University Corn Suitability Ratings CSR 3-22

  23. Soil Analysis • Should draw on various sources • Indicate the history of the property • Include local county extension agent information • May include USDA information • Information from state level agricultural offices • Begin with a set of maps 3-23

  24. Topography Examination • Irrigation • Methods of assigning water rights • Impact of water rights on property value • Drainage - surface or subsurface • Slopes • Erosion potential 3-24

  25. Group Discussion 3-25

  26. Module 3 - Review • Understand the composition of the ideal soil and how it supports agricultural production • Mineral material • organic matter • water • air • 45,25,25,5 3-26

  27. Module 3 - Review • Identify the macro and micro nutrients available in soils • Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulfur • Iron, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Boron, Molybdenum, Chlorine, Cobalt 3-27

  28. Module 3 - Review • Understand the concepts of soil texture, structure, and consistence • Coarse to Fine • Platy, Prismlike, Blocklike, Spherical • Loose to Very Fine 3-28

  29. Module 3 - Review • Identify the horizons occurring in soil profiles • O, A, B, and C 3-29

  30. Module 3 - Review • Understand the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NCRS) capability classification system • Eight Productive capacity Classes 3-30

  31. Module 3 - Review • Access resources to facilitate analysis of the soils of a agricultural property • NCRS soil surveys • Local Sources 3-31

  32. Self-Assessment Questions • The four major components of soil are • Soil deficiencies develop because of • The three main concepts describing soil character are • The NCRS capability classification system includes all of the following except for • Limitations on soils in the NCRS system refer to • The corn suitability rating (CSR) developed for Iowa soils 3-32

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