Soil Health
All Soil Health Content
Cover Crop Usage in South Dakota is on the Rise
The number of South Dakota producers who use cover crops has been increasing at an accelerating rate over the past ten years.
Cover Crop Adoption: Farmers’ perceived benefits & barriers
Cover crops are generally defined as crops planted between cash crops to cover and protect the soil. Some demonstrated benefits of cover crops include: reduced soil erosion, increased soil organic matter, increased biological variety, increased nitrogen supply, and weed control. Depending on the farmers’ objectives, different species of cover crops can be planted. For example, if a farmer’s main objective is to increase nitrogen supply, then legume cover crops best suited to the farm area should be selected.
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.
Swine Manure for Spring Planting
Did you know that swine manure is a valuable fertilizer that offers many benefits? Learn how it can be used to promote healthy plant growth, improve soil fertility, and reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.
“Snirt” and How To Minimize It
Blowing soils, dust storms and “snirt” (snow with dirt on it) are frequent challenges during dry, windy winters. Learn some soil health principles to limit erosion and minimize snirt on field edges this planting season.
Cover Crop Considerations for 2020
Producers across South Dakota are harvesting small grains. These crops provide an excellent window for adding a cover crop into your rotation.
What Makes Up a Healthy Soil?
Healthy soil has strong soil structure that stays together whether it’s wet or dry. Learn about the many components that combine to make soil healthy.
Managing Soil for Carbon Storage
Did you know that adopting soil health principles can lead to increased soil carbon concentrations? Learn about some recent studies in South Dakota that evaluated the potential of land management activities to increase soil carbon.
Inter-Seeding Cover Crops into Soybean
Recent studies have investigated the soil health and yield impacts of inter-seeding various cover crops into soybean plantings.
Inter-Seeding Cover Crops into Corn
Many producers are interested in incorporating cover crops into their cropping systems. Recent research investigated the effects of inter-seeding cover crops into corn on biomass production, grain yields, and other ecosystem services.