While many are concerned with diminishing natural resources,
one resource is often forgot in this ongoing list. While many do not realize it, soil quality
and function has been on a steady decline over the past few years. While some may think soil is just dirt or dust
that collects on the top shelf, it is actually a home for organic carbon.
Human activities have promoted the loss of soil organic
carbon in some of our Nation’s most important agricultural areas like the U.S.
Corn Belt. Excessive tilling, drainage, continuous
corn cropping, and burning all contribute to soil organic matter loss. To stop this soil carbon loss and even
improve soil carbon levels, agriculturalists have been encouraged to
increase organic matter by promoting practices like using cover crops, adding
manure to fields, using reduced or no-tillage techniques, and adding more biodiversity
to crop rotations. Increasing soil carbon also helps decrease
atmospheric greenhouse gases by removing atmospheric CO2 through crop growth and
storing C as organic matter in the soil.
These
will decrease the amount of greenhouse gases released from the soil.
In fact, research is taking place right here on East Campus
to study levels of greenhouse gases and how modern agriculture practices can increase
the removal of GHGs and even reduce their release into the environment. Several scientists working for the USDA
Agroecosystem Management Research Unit have been sampling and studying various
field plots in Eastern and Central Nebraska in search of various farming
techniques that will reduce the release of these greenhouse gases. For more information about this study as well
as others happening at the AMRU, please visit the website below.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?accn_no=421437
Soil is very important, especially for farmers, and I agree that it is often neglected. I took a soils course last semester and learned many ways to maintain a healthy soil. Corn is a crop that especially pulls a lot of the nutrients and minerals out of a soil, and with such high prices many people are planting only corn. If farming is to continue, then proper soil management needs to become a priority.
ReplyDeleteI was also in a soils class last semester, and I realized how extensive soil really is. I was astounded at how complex it is. I work in the soil research lab mentioned in my blog, and it is really encouraging to see so many researchers working to find more efficient and beneficial methods of managing soil.
ReplyDeleteMy best girlfriend is a horticulture major so I know she'll yell at me if I say that soil is just dirt. She hates that term, and I understand her point. Soil is a mixture of broken down organic matter, fungi, bacteria, living organisms, and so much more. It is in and of its self a very delicate micro-ecosystem that I think many people take for granted. It's very important to maintain a healthy soil composition because it's what provides our crops their nutritional value. I know none of us want to end up in another Dust Bowl because of over-farming. Allowing the fields to fallow or rotating crops with legumes can be very beneficial to maintain the health of the soil.
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