HEALTHY SOILS PRACTICES

Farmers who use healthy soil practices can produce economically and environmen-tally sustainable healthy food, while sequestering carbon that will help address climate change. While there is no commonly accepted definition of “healthy soil,” there are scientifically sound practices that develop healthy soil. While there still is much to be learned about healthy soil development, there is widespread agreement that soil rich with living organisms and able to function as a biological system is a key component for healthy soil and sequestering carbon. 1

“We are at the most critical moment in the history of our species, as man-made changes to the climate threaten humanity's security on Earth...The solution is farming. Simply put, we could sequester more than 100% of current annual CO2emissions with a switch to widely available and inexpensive organic management practices, which we term "regener-ative organic agriculture. Regenerative agriculture has demonstrated that these practices can comfortably feed the growing human population while repairing our damaged ecosys-tem...Even if modest assumptions about soil's carbon sequestration potential are made, regenerative agriculture can easily keep annual emissions to within a desirable range.” Rodale Institute

A major report by the Obama Administration found there is a big role for carbon storage in soil, noting that USDA-funded research at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station found soil accumulates signifi-cantly more carbon with organic farming than with conventional farming practices.1

A 2017 Northeastern University study found that organic farm soils had 26% more potential for long-term car -bon storage than soils from conventional farms. 2 It also concluded that such soils have 13% more soil organic matter.

“Soil is the biggest sink of carbon, bigger than the atmosphere and the oceans,” said Geoffrey Davies, a chemist who analyzed soil samples from over 700 convention farms in 48 states. “We already know that [conventional practices] like using [syn-thetic] fertilizers contribute to climate change,” said Davies—they deplete soil of car-bon, which is then released into the atmosphere.”i

The following practices are recognized as contributing to or required for healthy soils. Engaging in practices to increase organic matter, soil structure and nutrient and water holding capacity “No-till” and “low-till,” in lieu of deep tillage Refraining from applications of: synthetic fertilizers (especially nitrogen and phosphorus)3, synthetic

herbicides4, synthetic fungicides and pesticides, unless they are demonstrated not to kill or otherwise impact soil micro-organisms, biota or beneficial insects5 Practices recognized as contributing to or required for healthy soils (continued):

1 Soil Carbon Storage: A Big Role for Microorganisms” 2015 https://www.globalchange.gov/about/highlights/2016-soil-carbon-storage-a-big-role-for-microorganisms 2 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065211317300676?via%3Dihub3 Yayeh Bitew and Melkamu Alemayehu, 2017 “Impact of Crop Production Inputs on Soil Health: A Review” Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 16: 109-131) (See E.K. Bunemann, G.D. Schwenke and L. Van Zwieten 2007 “Impact of Agricultural Inputs on Soil Organisms- A Review”, Australian Journal of Soil Research 44: 379) (See Heide Hermary, 2007 “Effects of Some Synthetic Fertilizers on the Soil Ecosystem”4Yayeh Bitew and Melkamu Alemayehu, 2017 “Impact of Crop Production Inputs on Soil Health: A Review” Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 16: 109-131.) (See E.K. Bunemann, G.D. Schwenke and L. Van Zwieten 2007 “Impact of Agricultural Inputs on Soil Organisms- A Review”, Australian Journal of Soil Research 44: 379) 5 See Yayeh Bitew and Melkamu Alemayehu, 2017 “Impact of Crop Production Inputs on Soil Health: A Review” Asian Journal of Plant Sciences 16: 109-131.) (M.A. Locke and R.M. Zablotowicz “Pesticides inn Soil-Benefits and Limitations to Soil Health” USDA-ARS Southern Weed Science Research Unit ars.usda.gov) (See E.K. Bunemann, G.D. Schwenke and L. Van Zwieten 2007 “Impact of Agricultural Inputs on Soil Organisms- A Review”, Australian Journal of Soil Research 44: 379

Refraining from application of synthetic fungicides and pesticides unless they are demonstrated not to kill of otherwise impact soil micro-organisms, biota or beneficial insects67

Establishing or applying beneficial micro-organisms and fungi, such as mycorhhizal fungi89

Periodic mineralization of the soil, rather than a limited N-P-K focus

Annual planting of winter cover crops terminated by light incorporation, roller-crimping, or grazing – rather than application of an herbicide which impacts soil biota

Establishing on-farm biodiversity, by such measures as meaningful 4-to-5-year crop rotations and/or implementation of rotational or permanent vegetative field buffers, filter strips, tree and shrub buffers, warm season grasses, woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, habitats, pollinator habitat and other best management practices defined by USDA

Rotational grazing of ruminants (cattle, goats, bison, sheep), and other animals (hogs and poultry)10

Maintaining and expanding cover on soils – beyond cash and winter cover crops – at all times, such as by application of organic composts and mulches, either to cropland, grassland or pastureland; e.g., fall application of hay mulch, planting of intra-seasonal cover crops, etc.

No-till and low-till in lieu of deep tillage Additional practices supported by science, such as sequestering net carbon; e.g., the creation and

application of biochar.

6 M.A. Locke and R.M. Zablotowicz. “Pesticides in Soil-Benefits and Limitations to Soil Health” USDA-ARS Southern Weed Science Research Unit ars.usda.gov7 E.K. Bunemann, G.D. Schwenke and L. Van Zwieten 2007 “Impact of Agricultural Inputs on Soil Organisms – A Review”, Australian Journal of Soil Research 44: 3798 See Peter Jeffries, Silvio Gianinazzi et al 2003 “The Contribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Sustainable Maintenance of Plant Health and Soil Fertility” Biology and Fertility of Soils Volume 37, Issue 1, page 1) (Erik Verbruggen et al 2010 “Positive Effects of Organic Farming on Below-Ground Mutualists: :Large-Scale Comparison of Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in Agricultural Soils” New Phytologist Vol 186 Issue 4 pages 968- comparing conventional, organic and pasture lands9 E. Verbrugen et all 2010 “Positive Effects of Organic Farming on Below-Ground Mutualists; Large-Scale Comparison of Mycorrhizal Fungal Communities in Agricultural Soils” New Phytologist Vol 186 Issue 4 pages 968 – comparing conventional, organic and pasture lands10 See Maria Silveira, Ed Hanlon, Mariana Azenha and Hiran M. da Silva, Sept. 2015 Carbon Sequestration in Grazing Land Ecosystems” University of FLorids IFAS Extension Pub SL37

There is a Rapidly Growing body of Research on the Extensive Benefits from Healthy Soil – for Our Climate, Public Health and Ecosystem Health. What follows are selected highlights…

Northeastern University study finds organic soil holds and captures more carbon https://news.northeast-ern.edu/2017/10/03/study-finds-organic-soil-captures-holds-more-carbon/

“Healthy soil, healthy food, healthy people” (Rodale) https://rodaleinstitute.org/assets/FST-Brochure-2015.pdf

Increasing soil organic matter through organic agriculture. Numerous scientific studies show that soil or-ganic matter provides many benefits for building soil health such as improving the number and biodiversity of beneficial microorganisms that provide nutrients for plants, including fixing nitrogen, as well as control-ling soil-borne plant diseases. (EcoFarming Daily, 09.12.2018) http://bit.ly/2RFKcSW

Enhanced top soil carbon stocks under organic farming. (National Academy of Sciences, 2012). A meta-analysis from the farming systems database confirms higher soil organic carbon concentrations and stocks in top soils under organic farming http://www.pnas.org/content/109/44/18226

Diversification practices reduce organic to conventional yield gap. Appropriate investment in agroecologi-cal research to improve organic management systems could greatly reduce or eliminate the yield gap for some crops or regions (Proceedings of the Royal Society Biological Sciences, 12.10.2014) http://rspb.roy-alsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1799/20141396

Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture, (Nature, 04.25.2012) To establish organic agriculture as an important tool in sustainable food production, the factors limiting organic yields need to be more fully understood, alongside assessments of the many social, environmental and economic benefits of organic farming systems. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature11069

Modeling watershed-scale sequestration of soil organic carbon for carbon credit programs. (Applied Ge-ography 2009) https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20093312728

Environmental, Energetic, and Economic Comparisons of Organic and Conventional Farming Systems. (BioScience, 07.01.2005) Conventional agriculture can be made more sustainable and ecologically sound by adopting some traditional organic farming technologies. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/55/7/573/306755

Impact of reduced tillage on greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon stocks in an organic grass-clover ley - winter wheat cropping sequence. (Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 02.15.2017) This study filled important knowledge gaps about the impact of organic reduced tillage on greenhouse gas emissions, SOC stock changes and its potential for climate change mitigation. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880917300397

Different soil tillage systems influence accumulation of soil organic matter in organic agriculture. (African Journal of Agricultural Research, 12.2016) As a sustainable method of agriculture, organic agriculture aims to increase the soil organic matter through the use of crop rotation, legume cover crop, animal green ma-nure, and organic compost. These practices add organic residues with high organic Carbon which results in a higher soil organic matter content over time primarily due to the no-tillage practices. https://www.re-searchgate.net/publication/312027745_Different_soil_tillage_systems_influence_accumulation_of_soil_or-ganic_matter_in_organic_agriculture

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