Soil Health Series: Breaking Down Organic Matter When you look at a soil test, Organic Matter (OM) is usually reported as a single, simple percentage. But beneath the surface, that number represents a complex, layered system composed of three distinct fractions. Each of these fractions influences how your farm’s soil performs in very different ways. …
SOIL HEALTH SERIES: WHAT’S YOUR SOIL MADE OF?
SOIL HEALTH SERIES: WHAT’S YOUR SOIL MADE OF 🤔🪨 For a typical Western Canadian annual crop field, the profile looks roughly like this: 🪨 45% Mineral 🌬️ 25% Air 💧 25% Water 🌿 1–5% Organic Matter (Note: Perennial forages, long-term zero-till and pasture will often run much higher in OM). That 45% Mineral portion is …
Westman Carbon Project: Introduction
Starting this spring we will be doing an experiment on these 4 fields. We have divided each into two halves with the control (continuing as normal) on the west side & the treatment (introduction of a regenerative practice) on the east side. All plots will be intensively soil tested for changes in texture, plant available …
Soil Sampling In a Nut Shell
Depending on what company, retailer or individual farmer, anywhere from 16 to 144 soil cores will be obtained per 160 acre (quarter section) field.
Each core of soil is ~3/4″ in diameter and 24″ long. The core is obtained using a hydraulic cylinder with a 30″ stroke length, which is connected to an electric, hydraulic pump that is powered by the vehicle battery.