1. OSU Soil Balancing Trials
Our team will conduct research across the state focusing on two approaches:
1) On-station: replicated, manipulated experiments
2) On-farm: survey approach, no direct manipulations

2. Soil Balancing Manipulated Field Experiments
Primary goal is to better understand the mechanisms that contribute to soil balancing effects on crops, weeds and soils

3. Underlying Questions When we add lime (CaCO3), we always
Raise pH
Add calcium
Are there additional benefits of adding Ca that are solely attributed to a pH change? Can these effects be teased apart?
How does the ratio Ca:Mg influence soils, crops, weeds, etc. at low pH vs. ideal pH? Do balancing differ b/n pH ranges?
Are effects of gypsum (CaSO4) a sulfur response or soil conditioning response?

4. Correlation vs. Causation

5. Hirzel Farm
Badger Farms

6. Field Sites East Badger Farm – initiated in Fall of 2013
4 crop rotations (corn, soybean, wheat, red clover)
4 amendments
West Badger Farm – initiated in Spring of 2015
3 crop rotations (corn, soybean, wheat)
5 amendments
Hirzel Farm – initiated in Spring of 2015
3 crop rotations (corn, soybean, spelt)

7. East Badger Treatments: Main comparisons of interest:
Canfield silt loam, Transition to organic
pH = 6.0
CEC = 6
%BS = 56% Ca, 19% Mg, 4% K
Treatments:
HiCal lime
Dolomitic lime
HiCal lime + Gypsum (CaSO4)
HiCal lime + Gypsum + traces + biologicals (full Green Field farm program)
Main comparisons of interest:
HiCal lime vs Dolomitic lime
Does lime type matter?
HiCal vs. extra Ca vs. extra Ca + biologicals and traces
Does extra Ca or biologicals have effect in addition to liming?

8. West Badger Treatments: Main comparisons of interest
Certified organic since 1998, similar soil to EB, higher pH
Treatments:
Unamended (control)
HiCal lime
Gypsum (CaSO4)
Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)
HiCal lime + Gypsum
Dolomitic lime + Magnesium sulfate
Main comparisons of interest
Control vs. HiCal vs. Gypsum vs HiCal lime + Gypsum
What are relative effects of lime vs gypsum vs both?
Control vs. Gypsum vs Magnesium sulfate (Epsom)
Effects of gypsum vs epsom at low pH?
HiCal lime + Gypsum vs Dolomitic lime + Magnesium sulfate
Effects of Ca vs Mg at idea pH?

9. Hirzel
Certified organic since 2004, Hoyville clay loam, very poorly drained
pH = 7.0
CEC = 18
%BS = 77% Ca, 19% Mg, 2.3% K
Treatments:
Unamended (control)
Gypsum (CaSO4)
Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO4)
Elemental S
Gypsum + Elemental S
Main comparisons of interest
Control vs. Gypsum vs Magnesium sulfate (Epsom)
Effects of gypsum vs epsom at idea/high pH?
Control vs. Gypsum vs Elemental S vs Gypsum + Elemental S
Effects of Ca vs. S vs both?

10. Timeline East Badger Farm – initiated in Fall of 2013
Treatments modified in Fall 2015
Amendments applied in Fall 2015
West Badger Farm – initiated in Spring of 2015
Amendments applied in Spring of 2015 and Fall 2015
Hirzel Farm – initiated in Spring of 2015

11. Measurements Year 2 Years 3 and 4 Early spring soil sampling
Weed emergence counts, etc
Soil Health Suite
Active organic matter – Active C, Soil Protein, Respiration
Aggregate Stability, penetration resistance, infiltration
R1 tissue sampling (nutrient analysis)
Harvest for grain (maybe grain nutrients, maybe stalk nitrate in corn?)
Fall soil sampling
Standard Soil + Paste test
Years 3 and 4
Intensify sampling
R1 sampling for soils, root biomass