Soil Health Bucket Guided Notes Lesson 2

Soil Organic Matter

Lesson 2

or

Soil Organic Matter

Lesson 2: Soil Organic Matter

Factors Affecting Soil Organic Matter

Soil Organic Matter Management

• Use of conservation cropping systems
• Diverse crop rotations, solid manure, high residue crops, grasses, or perennial plants properly grazed or hayed help improve organic matter

• Reduce or eliminate tillage
• Tillage exposes the organic matter to the air and can result in the reduction of stable organic matter

• Reduce erosion
• When soil erodes, organic matter goes with it

• Soil-test and fertilize properly
• Proper fertilization encourages root growth for more organic matter in the soil

• Use of perennial forages
• Provides for annual die back and regrowth of plants

Climate

Soil texture

Vegetation

Organic matter decomposes more quickly in warm and humid climates than cool dry climates

Soil aeration: more oxygen in the soil speeds up the decomposition process

Prairie soils have more organic material added to the soil than forest soils because of vegetation

Click on the pencil icon in the upper right corner to draw!

Click on the buttons to reveal the notes!

Soil Organic Matter

Lesson 2: Soil Organic Matter

Benefits of Soil Organic Matter

Nutrient Supply

As organisms decompose, nutrients are released in a plant usable form

Water-Holding Capacity

Organic matter has the ability to hold up to 90 percent of its weightin water

Improved soil aggregation improves soil structure

Soil Aggregation

Erosion is reduced because water infiltration and soil stability are increased

Erosion Prevention

Soil Organic Matter

Lesson 2: Soil Organic Matter

3.5 - 7%

5%

2.5 - 4%

3.5%

2 - 3%

2.5%

1.5 - 2.5%

2%

1 - 2%

1.5%

Average:

RANGE:

The provides an estimate of the amount of organic matter in the soil.

SOIL COLOR CHART

Soil Organic Matter

Lesson 2: Soil Organic Matter

2

1

4

3

University of Illinois Soil Color Chart

Strong sunlight may cause these colors to fade slightly.