The Dirt on Dirt

Many people have little tolerance for dirt. They spend their whole life trying to get rid of it. I think it is one of the reasons most of the population lives in cities.

Urban folk go to great lengths to cover every square inch of the land with asphalt and concrete. Luckily for them, some small groups of people still enjoy working the soil. Most of the food produced is a result of these farmers who work the soil and get their hands dirty every day.

Soil is a result of many years of hard work by Mother Nature. Rock and minerals are broken into tiny pieces and combined with organic matter to form the various types of soils found today. Depending on the composition and depth of the soil it can support varying levels of air, water and nutrients. This, in turn, determines what plants and microorganisms will prosper in the environment.

Soil in its natural environment will tend to form into distinct layers. The upper surface layer, or horizon, is composed of mostly organic matter. This is followed by the middle layer(s), which will contain inorganic compounds that have leached downward by the action of water. The bottom layer is the weathered parent material.

Farmers look to the soil to provide the necessary nutrients to grow their crops. Many factors must be considered when a farmer plants a crop in the soil. The soil's structure, composition, water content, temperature and available plant nutrients will all be important considerations for the farmer.

One goal of farming is to use the soil's nutrients to produce food crops to feed the population. Farming incorrectly, over time, will lower soil fertility and can also damage the soil structure. Land farmed this way is more susceptible to water and wind erosion. Monoculture, or the growing one crop (for example corn) for many successive years on the same land, is very hard on soil. Farmers have developed many ways to combat this degradation by using cover crops, rotational cropping and reduced tillage methods. It is possible over time to reverse damage and improve soil quality by careful planning. The use of forages in a crop rotation or additional organic matter (either from livestock or plant) can increase the soil's organic matter levels.

It is a good idea to have your farm's soil tested regularly (every two to three years) to insure the soil meets the needs of the crops you intend to grow. Depending on the test used, results will provide information on the soil's acidity; texture; phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen content; organic matter levels and recommendations. The best times to test are in the early spring and late fall. Another useful investment is to purchase a soil map of your area. These detailed maps will give you valuable information about the conditions in your area and are usually available from your local government or extension office.

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