Module 2: Your Living Soil  Soils  Soil Quality  Fertilizing  Soil Surveys  Irrigation NRCS

Getting Down and Dirty With Soil Developed by : Hudson Minshew, Oregon State University Extension Service Susan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension USDA NRCS

Lesson 1 Agenda  Soil texture and structure  The living soil  Understanding soil erosion  Reducing soil erosion  Improving your soil  Taking a soil sample NRCS, Mont.

What describes a good soil?  Drains well  Doesn’t crust after planting  Soaks up heavy rains with little runoff  Stores moisture for drought periods  Has few clods and no hardpan  Resists erosion and nutrient loss  Produces healthy, high quality crops

How are soils formed? A. Miller

What are soils made of?  Minerals  Air  Water  Organic matter (humus)

Soil minerals A. Miller

The soil textural triangle A. Miller

NRCS, Bozeman Mont. Textural triangle for the graphically challenged

Texture by feel: Sand Adapted from NRCS, Bozeman Mont. by A. Miller

Why determine soil texture? Soil texture influences:  Water intake rates  Water-storage capacity  Ease of tillage  Amount of aeration  Soil fertility

In this experiment, an equal amount of water was applied to three soil types. NRCS, Bozeman, Mont. Soil texture affects drainage

worm USDA NRCS

Benefits of soil organic matter  Increased water- and nutrient- holding capacity  Formation of soil into stable aggregates  Reduced soil compaction  Improved water infiltration

What threatens my soil? NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Signs of water erosion  Small rills and channels on the soil surface  Soil deposited at the base of slopes  Sediment in streams, lakes, and reservoirs  Pedestals of soil supporting pebbles and plant materials

Soil quality  An assessment of the capacity of a soil to: –Sustain plant and animal productivity –Maintain or enhance water and air quality –Support human health and habitation

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How do I know what to add to my soil??? A. Miller

Test your soil! UNCE, Reno, Nev. Use the “slice” method for a representative sample.

Managing Soil to Keep It Productive Developed by: Hudson Minshew Oregon State University Extension Service Susan Donaldson University of Nevada Cooperative Extension NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

Lesson 2, Part 1: Fertilizing  What do my soil test results mean?  What nutrients do plants need?  How can I supply those nutrients?

pH  Indicates relative acidity or alkalinity  pH 7 = neutral; less than pH 7 = acid; more than pH 7 = alkaline or basic Adapted from library.thinkquest.org by A. Miller

Soil pH and nutrients Adapted from by A. Miller Widest part of the bar indicates maximum availability

Classifying salt-affected soils  Electrical conductivity measurements (EC)  Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP)  Salt-affected soils are commonly classified for management purposes into three groups: saline, sodic, and saline-sodic based on EC and ESP

Plant nutrients  Substances necessary for plant growth  Some, such as hydrogen, oxygen and carbon, come from the air and water  Others, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, may need to be added  Excess or improper use of fertilizers may result in water pollution

Macronutrients N = nitrogen P = phosphorus K = potassium H = hydrogen O = oxygen C = carbon Ca = calcium Mg = magnesium S = sulfur

Micronutrients Fe = iron Mn = manganese Zn = zinc B = boron Mb = molybdenum Ni = nickel Cu = copper Co = cobalt Cl = chlorine

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What’s in the bag? WAY TO GROW FERTILIZER 28 – GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Total nitrogen 28% 6% Ammonium nitrogen 14% Urea nitrogen Available phosphoric acid 14% Soluble potash 5% Derived from sulfur-coated urea, etc. Product name NPK formula Nitrogen content Phosphorus content Potassium content Specific sources

Calculating fertilizer rates X 100 Pounds of nutrient recommended Percentage of nutrient in fertilizer material To convert a recommendation to pounds/acre of an actual fertilizer material, use the following formula :

USDA NRCS Nutrient deficiencies

Lesson 2, Part 2: Soil Surveys  How to use a soil survey  How to find a map unit  Map unit descriptions  Soil ratings and capabilities

How do I use a soil survey?  Locate your property on the “Index to Map Sheets” page  Note the number of the map sheet  Find that sheet  Locate your property on the map sheet  Make a list of map unit symbols

Soil map unit example 630 Fleischmann gravelly clay loam Soil textural class is part of map unit name Number designation Name given by soil scientists conducting survey

Soil limitations NRCS, Bozeman, Mont.

 Suitability ratings  Temperature and precipitation data  Freeze dates and growing season  Productivity  Building site development Other information:

Capability classes USDA NRCS

Got Water? Developed by: Hud Minshew, Oregon State University Extension Service Susan Donaldson, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Lesson 3 Agenda  Sources of irrigation water: surface versus well water  Matching available water to soils and plants  Determining when it’s time to irrigate  Irrigation systems

Where will you get your water?  Do you have a water right?  Where will your water come from?  When or how often will you get your water?

Things to know before you start to irrigate:  What plants do you want to grow?  Do you have enough available water to support the plants?  Are your soils appropriate for growing the plants you selected? UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Where do plants get their water from in the root zone? Adapted from PNW 475 by A. Miller

Soil texture and drainage Soil texture Infiltration rate, inches per hour Sand2 - 4 Sandy loam1 - 3 Silt loam, loams0.25 – 1.5 Silty clay loams, clay0.1 – 0.3 A. Miller

Available water OSU Extension Service

Available water A. Miller

When is it time to irrigate?  Rule of thumb: when the amount of water-holding capacity is at 50 % -- but that’s hard to tell!  If your plants are showing signs of stress, irrigation is overdue –Look for wilting or grasses that don’t spring back up when stepped on

The Look-and-feel Method USDA NRCS

Look-and-feel method Clay, clay loam or silty clay loam at 25 to 50% moisture Clay, clay loam or silty clay loam at 50 to 75% moisture Irrigation is overdue.Will need to irrigate soon. USDA NRCS

Look-and-feel method Sandy loam or fine sandy loam at 50 to 75% moisture Sandy loam or fine sandy loam at 25 to 50% moisture Irrigation is overdue.Will need to irrigate soon.

Irrigation methods: selecting the system that’s right for you Micro-irrigation Surface Sprinkle USDA NRCS

Are you using an existing system, or starting over?  Your flexibility may be limited with an existing system, but costs will be lower  Starting over allows you to carefully match soils, plants and water availability with irrigation systems, but can be costly  New irrigation systems may save time, money or water

What source of power will you use?  None – select an irrigation system that does not require power  Electricity from an existing power line  An internal combustion engine  Solar power

Surface irrigation (gravity-flow) NRCS Irrigation Page UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Contour-furrow irrigation Icrisat.org

Powered systems: sprinklers UNCE, Reno, Nev.

Low-energy precision-application sprinklers USDA NRCS USGS

Drip irrigation USDA SCS Graphic by A Miller, adapted from USDA-SCS 1984

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Checking your system: Does it apply water uniformly? UNCE, Reno, Nev.