Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life found in the soil.
Researchers at the USDA-ARS North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory in Brookings, SD, use these airtight jars to measure respiration from living organisms in the soil.
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Jorgensen Land and Cattle near Ideal, S.D., grazes cattle on about 40-45% of its cropland. Nick Jorgensen said that grazing cattle improves his crop yields and adds about 25% more soil organic matter per year when compared to the cropland he can’t graze.
Nick Jorgensen, CEO of Jorgensen Land and Cattle near Ideal, SD, explained the economic benefits of soil health practices during the 2021 Soil Health School.
To learn more about soil health practices, visit www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org. For guidance and assistance on implementing sustainable land management practices, producers and landowners can visit their local NRCS office or contact the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition at 605-280-4190.
