1. Soil Testing Procedures for Biologically Based Systems Raymond C. Ward Ward Laboratories, Inc Kearney, Nebraska www.wardlab.com

3. Soil Testing for No Till Farmers I have been interested in developing soil tests that could be analyzed quickly and at low cost that could let the farmer know how well his operation was improving yield and soil health. I have been interested in developing soil tests that could be analyzed quickly and at low cost that could let the farmer know how well his operation was improving yield and soil health. Researchers at the National Tilth Lab at Ames Iowa are developing a soil quality index that may give the right parameters to analyze. Researchers at the National Tilth Lab at Ames Iowa are developing a soil quality index that may give the right parameters to analyze.

4. Soil Quality Index Total Organic C Total Organic C Potential Mineralizable N Potential Mineralizable N Soil pH Soil pH Soil Extractable P Soil Extractable P Sodium Adsorption Ratio Sodium Adsorption Ratio Electrical Conductivity Electrical Conductivity Microbial Biomass C Microbial Biomass C Microbial Quotient qCO 2 Microbial Quotient qCO 2 Macroaggregate Stability Macroaggregate Stability Available Water Capacity Available Water Capacity Bulk Density Bulk Density

5. Carbon Cycle

6. Total Organic Carbon Soil Organic Matter test Soil Organic Matter test –Loss on Ignition (LOI) Carbon Analyzer Carbon Analyzer Soil Organic Matter is 58 % C Soil Organic Matter is 58 % C Food for Microbes Food for Microbes

7. Microbial Biomass Biological Activity Biological Activity Active Soil Carbon Active Soil Carbon Increases with Cropping Intensity Increases with Cropping Intensity Measurement involves Incubation for 3 days or more Measurement involves Incubation for 3 days or more

8. Particulate Organic Matter Decomposed Residue Decomposed Residue Slow Turnover Pool of OM Slow Turnover Pool of OM Soils with the Most Intensive Cropping System Contains the Highest POM Soils with the Most Intensive Cropping System Contains the Highest POM Major Substrate used by Microbes Major Substrate used by Microbes

9. Mineral Associated Organic Carbon This Organic Carbon is Not Influenced by Cropping Intensity This Organic Carbon is Not Influenced by Cropping Intensity It is the Largest Supply of Organic Carbon It is the Largest Supply of Organic Carbon Takes Years to Increase Takes Years to Increase Stabilized (that part we could not destroy by tillage) Stabilized (that part we could not destroy by tillage)

11. Nitrogen Cycle

12. Plant and Animal Residue/Organic Soil N/Air N Plant and Animal Residue/Organic Soil N/Air N Microorganisms Microorganisms Ammonification (NH4) – Plant Uptake – Soil Complex Ammonification (NH4) – Plant Uptake – Soil Complex Nitrification (NO3) – Plant Uptake – Leaching - Denitrification Nitrification (NO3) – Plant Uptake – Leaching - Denitrification Immobilization (Soil Organic N) Immobilization (Soil Organic N)

13. Sulfur Cycle

14. Plant and Animal Residues/Organic Soil S Microbial Breakdown – Oxidation/Reduction Sulfates/Sulfides and from Fertilizers, etc Sulfate – Plant uptake – Leaching – Soil Minerals

15. No-Till Sulfur Deficiency Most of the Sulfur in the soil is held in the organic matter portion of the soil Most of the Sulfur in the soil is held in the organic matter portion of the soil The idea is to build organic matter to improve the health of the soil and increase productivity The idea is to build organic matter to improve the health of the soil and increase productivity C : N : S ratio C : N : S ratio 100C : 8N : 1S 100C : 8N : 1S

16. Soil Sample Depth Evaluating No-Till Evaluating No-Till –0-2 inches most active – 2-6 inches – 6-12 inches Evaluating Fertility Evaluating Fertility – 0-8 inches for all nutrients – 8-36 inches for Nitrate, Chloride, Sulfate

17. Nutrient Uptake and Root Structure

19. Granular Structure

20. Microbe Tests

22. Soil pH Important for Crop Growth Important for Crop Growth Important for Microbe Growth Important for Microbe Growth Tendency to Decrease over Time Tendency to Decrease over Time Some Herbicides Less Affective at Low pH Some Herbicides Less Affective at Low pH Broadleaf Crops Contain more Calcium and Magnesium Broadleaf Crops Contain more Calcium and Magnesium

23. Optimum Soil pH Crop Mid PointRange (+/-) Wheat 6.3.75 Corn6.3 2.0 Soybean6.3 1.2 Sunflower6.6 2.1 Field Peas6.5 1.0

24. Nitrate Soil Test Consider nitrate in your root zone Total Lbs/A are available Subtract total Lbs/A from N requirement N recommendation based on nitrate in the root zone

25. Phosphorus Soil Test Soil test ppm P Rating % Sufficiency 0-5Very Low25-50 6-12Low45-80 13-25Medium70-95 26-50High90-100 51+Very High 100

26. Phosphorus deficiency

27. Potassium Soil Test Soil Test ppm K Rating% Sufficiency 0-40Very Low20-50 41-80Low45-80 81-120Medium70-95 121-200High90-100 201+Very High100

28. Sulfur Soil Test Soil Test ppm SRating 0-3Very Low 4-6Low 8-12Medium 13-20High 20+Very High

29. Sulfur in Wheat

30. Sulfur Deficiency

31. Zinc Soil Test Soil Test ppm Zn Rating Soil Test ppm Zn Rating 0-.25Very Low.26-.50Low.51-1.00Medium 1.01+High

32. Zinc Deficiency Wheat

33. Zinc deficiency

34. Zinc Deficiency Wheat

35. Copper Soil Test 0-.20Low 0-.20Low.20-.60Medium.20-.60Medium >.60High >.60High

36. Copper Deficiency Wheat