bsbc.pdf

third EditiON

Building SoilS FoR BetteR CRopS

SuStainable Soil ManageMent

by f red m agdoff and h arold van e s

haNdbOOk

Building SoilS FoR BetteR CRopS

third edition

by Fred MagdoFF and harold van es

handbook series book 10

Published in 2009 by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program,

with funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture

SuStainable Soil ManageMent

This book was published by the Sustainable Agriculture Research

and Education (SARE) program under cooperative agreements with

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, University of

Maryland and University of Vermont.

Every effort has been made to make this book as accurate as possible.

This text is only a guide, however, and should be used in conjunction

with other information sources on crop, soil, and farm management.

The editors, authors, and publisher disclaim any liability, loss, or risk,

personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence, directly or

indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

To order:

Online: Visit www.sare.org/webstore

By check or purchase order: Make payable to Sustainable Agriculture

Publications and send to:

Mention, visual representation, or inferred reference of a product, ser-

vice, manufacturer, or organization in this publication does not imply

endorsement by USDA, the SARE program, or the authors. Exclusion

does not imply a negative evaluation.

Sustainable Agriculture Publications

P.O. Box 753

Waldorf, MD 20604-0753

The opinions expressed in this book do not necessarily relect the

opinions of the SARE program or USDA.

Cost:

• $20.95 for orders of 1-9 books

• $15.71 for 10-24 books (a 25% discount)

• $10.47 for 25 or more books (a 50% discount)

Authors: Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es

Contributing Writer (farmer proiles): Amy Kremen

Production Manager: Dena Leibman

Copy Editing: Jill Mason

Graphic Design: Kirsten Ankers

Cover Illustration: Frank Fretz

Indexing: Jill Mason

Printing: Printed by Linemark Printing using 100% wind power on

process-chlorine-free, 100% post-consumer-waste paper.

Shipping:

• $5.95 for irst book (within USA). Add $2 s/h for each additional

book—up to nine books—shipped within USA.

• For s/h on orders of 10 or more books, call (301) 374-9696 or visit

www.sare.org/webstore.

International or credit card orders:

• Call (301) 374-9696 or visit www.sare.org/webstore.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Magdoff, Fred, 1942-

Building soils for better crops : sustainable soil management / by

Fred Magdoff and Harold van Es. -- 3rd ed.

p. cm. -- (Handbook series ; bk. 10)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-888626-13-1

1. Soil management. 2. Humus. I. Van Es, Harold, 1958- II.

Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (Program) III. Title.

IV. Series: Sustainable Agriculture Network handbook series ; bk. 10.

S592.8.M34 2009

631.4--dc22

2009031856

ContentS

About the Authors ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ v

About sAre .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... vii

PrefAce ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ix

IntroductIon .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... xi

PART ONE orGAnIc MAtter—the KeY to heALthY soILs

1 Healthy Soils ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

2 Organic Matter: What It Is and Why It’s So Important ................................................................................................................................ 9

3 Amount of Organic Matter in Soils ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23

4 The Living Soil ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37

PART TWO PhYsIcAL ProPertIes And nutrIent cYcLes

5 Soil Particles, Water, and Air ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 49

6 Soil Degradation: Erosion, Compaction, and Contamination ................................................................................................................... 57

7 Nutrient Cycles and Flows ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 69

PART THREE ecoLoGIcAL soIL MAnAGeMent

8 Soil Health, Plant Health, and Pests ........................................................................................................................................................................ 77

9 Managing for High-Quality Soils: Organic Matter, Soil Physical Condition, Nutrient Availability ...................................... 87

10 Cover Crops ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 101

11 Crop Rotations ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 115

12 Animal Manures for Increasing Organic Matter and Supplying Nutrients ........................................................................................ 129

13 Making and Using Composts ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 141

14 Reducing Erosion and Runoff ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 153

15 Preventing and Lessening Compaction .................................................................................................................................................................. 161

16 Reducing Tillage ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 173

17 Managing Water: Irrigation and Drainage ........................................................................................................................................................... 187

18 Nutrient Management: An Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 203

19 Management of Nitrogen and Phosphorus .......................................................................................................................................................... 213

20 Other Fertility Issues: Nutrients, CEC, Acidity, and Alkalinity ................................................................................................................. 227

21 Getting the Most from Routine Soil Tests ............................................................................................................................................................. 235

PART FOUR PuttInG It ALL toGether

22 How Good Are Your Soils? Field and Laboratory Evaluation of Soil Health ..................................................................................... 257

23 Putting It All Together ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 267

GLossArY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 277

resources .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 283

Index .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 287

iii

Building SoilS for Better CropS: SuStainaBle Soil ManageMent

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