Soil Fertility
All Soil Fertility Content

Eastern South Dakota Soil and Water Research Farm Field Day
The USDA Agricultural Research Service will host the 31st annual Eastern South Dakota Soil and Water Research Farm Field Day on July 9 from 9:30 a.m. CDT until noon.

Soil Testing Labs
This page contains a list of nearby state or private laboratories that can be used for crop production fields, gardens and lawns.

Fertilizer Placed With the Seeds in Dry Soil Conditions
Climate patterns can shift from wet to dry very quickly. A current consideration is thinking about seed injury from furrow-placed fertilizers, and there are notable differences among crops for tolerance of seed-placed fertilizers.

Soil: It’s Not Just Dirt
Most soils are complex ecosystems with worms, insects and microscopic organisms, which all work together in helping plants grow.

Grassland Fertilization: Ecology
In the first article in this series, we discussed basic terminology and economics. This article focuses on the ecological impacts of fertilization in various grassland plant communities, including native rangelands and prairies.

Grassland Fertilization: Terminology and Economics
This article is the first in a series of six focused on helping producers understand the pros and cons of grassland fertilization. We begin by learning some of the basic terminology and information related to fertilization.

Grassland Fertilization: Native Pasture Case Studies – McPherson, Deuel, Grant and Clark Counties
Even our best native pastures, rangelands and prairies suffer from at least some level of invasion. Within this reality lies a wide gradient of quality of native grasslands that is largely influenced by past and present management.
![A green tractor planting seeds in a no-till field. Courtesy: United Soybean Board [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr](/sites/default/files/2019-10/W-00433-00-no-till-planting-soybeans-field.jpg)
Farm Practices That Improve Soil Health: Crop Rotations and No-Till
Implementing crop rotations and no-till practices are common suggestions to reduce erosion, control pests, and improve yields. These practices can also improve soil health through an increase in soil carbon levels.

Economics of Different Crop Rotation Systems in South Dakota
Economic returns are an important factor to consider when selecting crop rotation systems.

Soil Organic Matter Matters: How Conservation Practices Bring Value to Farmers
Conservation management practices, such as conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation and livestock integration, help improve soil health over time and offer producers numerous economic benefits.