Why Soil Management After Harvest Is Worth Your Time and Investment
With soybean harvest looming and corn not far behind, soil fertility may not be something that is really pressing you for attention, however, it may be just the thing that needs it, writes Frank Becker, The Ohio State University Extension, at The Daily Record. This is the time of year to start asking yourself some questions about your soil management decisions and thinking critically on how to adjust and improve.
Your soil needs your attention and you need to understand what is going on in the soil to be able to make the correct management decisions. When was the last time you took soil samples? What did those samples test for? What kind of tillage have you been using and why? When are you applying nutrients and how much?
There are endless amounts of questions and information on soil management and managing soil fertility, but it really is best to get down to the basics and answer the foundational questions on your soil management decisions. Looking at soil sampling, it is recommended that you take soil samples every two-three years. After two-three years, soil properties and nutrient concentrations can, and will change.
These factors also will change when soil management strategies change. If you have changed how you handle tillage, for example, within the past year or two, it would be in your best interest to take soil samples. A soil sample is not only important for understanding what you have in your soil, it is essential for making decisions on amending the soil.
Continue reading at The Daily Record.
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