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• Oregon Department of Agriculture Fertilizer Research Grant
• Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Benton Soil & Water Conservation Dist.• Soil & Water Conservation Society
Oregon Branch
WELCOME & THANKS
Soil Quality AssessmentsTeresa Matteson
The capacity of a soil to:• Sustain plant and animal productivity.• Maintain or enhance water and air quality.• Support human health and habitation.
Define Soil Quality
Why Soil Quality?
1. Land management impacts Soil Quality - for better or for worse.
2. Field & Lab assessments encourage informed management decisions that:
• Lower production costs• Reduce environmental impacts• Build soil capital
Take Home Messages
Management and Soil Quality
Soil Organisms
Soil Structure
Organic Matter
Water Infiltration
Vegetation
Soil Quality
Soil Quality Assessment
• Field Observations• Laboratory Tests
WV Soil Quality Card
Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card (EM 8711)
Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card Guide (EM 8710)
Online at OSU Extension publications
Do this at HOME!!!
NRCS SQ Test Kithttp://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/test_kit.html
Do this at HOME!!!A simple set of tools to measure infiltration.
Infiltration = Pore Space = Compaction
Water Infiltration
1. Reduces erosion
2. Minimizes water pollution
3. Increases irrigation efficiency
4. Prevents flooding
5. Is cost effective
• Field Observations• Laboratory Tests
Get to know your soil better!
Sample Collection
10 shovels of soil = composite sample10 compaction readings
Lab Assessments
Answer is in the BAG!
SQP Report$100/sample
• Weeds• Bare soil• Hx: Intensive till• No OM inputs
Sample ID#
23
Sampling Date
Field Agent
Field Soil Texture
sandy loam
Management
Value UnitsRange for SQP soils
Constraints
Soil Textural Class 73 % sand
16 % silt
11 % clay
Aggregate Stability 10 % 5-89 aeration, infiltration, rooting, crusting
Surface Hardness 545 psi 9-575 root growth, water transmission
Subsurface Hardness 628 psi 55-628 rooting at depth
Organic Matter 1.1 % 1.0-11.5energy, C storage, water and nutrient holding
Active Carbon 145mg/kg soil
(ppm)98-901
organic material to support biological functions
Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen
0.0 ppm N
per day at 22 oC
0.04 - 0.66 ability to supply N
Recommended ranges west of the Cascades - check crop fertilizer guide.
Extractable Phosphorus 17 ppm 4-242low < 20; medium 20-40;
high 40-100; excessive >100
Extractable Potassium 129 ppm 102-1070low <150; medium 150-250;
high 250-800; excessive >800
Extractable Calcium 1400 ppm 1400-4739low <1000; medium 1000-2000;
high >2000
Extractable Magnesium 391 ppm 123-874 low <60; medium 60-180; high >180
pH 6.7 4.8-7.4Most crops grow best in soil pH between 6.0-7.5
Bio
log
ica
lC
he
mic
al
fallow
Indicators
Ph
ys
ica
l
n/asandy loam
weeds and bare soil
Soil Quality Assessment ReportName of Farmer Farm name
Farm Location
OR
Field ID per farmer GPS Coordinates
Last Crops Grown
SQP Report
• Row crop rotation• 20 yr OM• Cultivation
Sample ID#
1
Sampling Date
Field Agent
Field Soil Texture
loam
Management
Value UnitsRange for SQP soils
Constraints
Soil Textural Class 36 % sand
39 % silt
25 % clay
Aggregate Stability 27 % 5-89
Surface Hardness 38 psi 9-575
Subsurface Hardness 178 psi 55-628
Organic Matter 6.6 % 1.0-11.5
Active Carbon 1151mg/kg soil
(ppm)98-901
Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen
1.6 ppm N
per day at 22 oC
0.04 - 0.66
Recommended ranges west of the Cascades - check crop fertilizer guide.
Extractable Phosphorus 201 ppm 4-242low < 20; medium 20-40;
high 40-100; excessive >100
Extractable Potassium 1260 ppm 102-1070low <150; medium 150-250;
high 250-800; excessive >800
Extractable Calcium 3700 ppm 1400-4739low <1000; medium 1000-2000;
high >2000
Extractable Magnesium 542 ppm 123-874 low <60; medium 60-180; high >180
pH 7.1 4.8-7.4Most crops grow best in soil pH between 6.0-7.5
Bio
log
ica
lC
he
mic
al
subsoil 1 x per year; disk; rotovate; veg residues left standing; garlic undercutter; deep tillage passes 1-2/year
Indicators
Ph
ysic
al
n/aloam
mixed vegetable crops
Soil Quality Assessment ReportName of Farmer Farm name
Farm Location
OR
GOOD SQ DEMO
Field ID per farmer GPS Coordinates
Last Crops Grown
Compaction
SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
Dickey-john compaction tester
Maximum pressure in two depth ranges:
0-6 inches6-18 inches
Compaction
Pores spaces are where plant roots get air, water, and nutrients. Soil compaction decreases valuable pore space between soil particles.
Uncompacted soil Compacted soil
pore space
soil particles
Adapted from Sulzman and Frey, 2003
Decrease in pore spaces are where plants get air, water, and nutrients.
Adapted from Sulzman and Frey, 2003
Field Assessment
Less Greater
Compaction
Field Observations
Try this at home!
Test yourcompaction!
Use what you have:• Fingers• Shovel• Pin flag• Rod
Why Compaction?
• EROSION! 500 yrs = 1 in. top soil
• INFILTRATION!
• CO$T!!!! Production Environment
Three steps of water erosion
Most erosion is initiated by the impact of raindrops, NOT by the flow of running water
USA 1930’s Dust Bowl
Wikipedia… “The phenomenon was caused by severe drought coupled with decades of extensive farming without crop rotation, fallow fields, cover crops or other techniques to prevent wind erosion.[1] Deep plowing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains had displaced the natural deep-rooted grasses that normally kept the soil in place and trapped moisture even during periods of drought and high winds.”
Ways to Improve Soil
• Reduce disturbance• Work soil when dry• Avoid compaction• Add organic materials
Mulch soil surface Cover crops
Soil Quality Network
Get on the Map!June 2013
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. ~Marcel Proust
Betsiboka River, MadagascarVia Space Shuttle
Teresa Matteson
Benton SWCD
541-753-7208
Thanks for attending this Soil Health Workshop!
