Set Reasonable Soil Health Goals
The first step to soil health management is assessing your current soil health and identifying what properties need to be maintained or improved. Then set up soil health goals for your field(s). Be sure these goals are...
Measurable: What assessment tools are appropriate? Choose assessment tools that are tested for effectiveness, but also work with your time and budget.
Achievable: Not everything can be changed. Soil texture and bedrock properties are difficult to manage away but must be managed around.
Realistic: Be cautious of one-size-fits-all approaches to soil health improvement. Not everything will work with your specific climate, crops, budget, or timeframe. Think about additional equipment, risk, or testing expenses; and realize that many soil improvements take time.
Soil health Strategies
Stay tuned for strategies to improve:
- Organic Matter Content
- Drainage
- Water holding capacity
- Biological Activity
- Erosion Control
- pH
- Nutrient Retention
- Carbon Sequestration
Soil health Practices
A list of existing free resources on various aspects of soil health management: reduced erosion risks, improved drainage, optimal pH, nutrient retention, and more.