Building Organic Matter

There are steps you can take to build organic matter and improve your topsoil. Learn what they are in this segment.

[@robertpayne2717]

Red clover and Vetches in the fall with a cereal rye will greatly improve organic matter. A change in ag culture raise your cash crops in summer and build soils in winter is what is needed

[@arturowagner4728]

I'm trying to drastically reduce my tillage. I left my wheat stubble standing and plan on planting corn into the residue.

[@robertreznik9330]

From my studies in the 1960's to learn Soil Science and a life time of farming, I found there is something missing when people discuss increasing SOM. Actual soil OM is composed of many essential elements. These have to be brought into the system cycle. Oxygen Hydrogen and Carbon can come naturally along with some sulfur and nitrogen. Many of the other elements often times do not by weathering of soil minerals. There has to be chemical balance. Also balance to add 2 % point OM is the net addition of 10 thousand lbs of carbon to an acre of soil profile. The solar energy to reduce CO2 to C with Photosynthesis is simply not there to do this in just years as some claim. After all Photosynthesis converts a small fraction of the 10 KW hrs that falls daily on a square meter area during the summer months

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren addressed your comments on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/01-29-21-farmer-friday#t=42:47

[@iikmubarakachmad3054]

reducing tillage is important,, this is fantastic job

[@aNaturalist]

Great videos guys! I'm one of those very small scale organic aficionados, but I definitely like to come cherry pick info here. The videos on soil PH have been some of my favorite as well.

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren addressed your comment on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/11-10-20-biological-products#t=48:55

[@sammadnizamani]

Excellent work

[@stevegermain1222]

This is great information

[@robertpayne2717]

What about Vertical Tillage and not really disturbing the old roots

[@jonstevensmaplegrovefarms3754]

the residue on top adds little to the OM build. its the roots that build OM. chemically roots and residue act different to the soil. the residue on top is natures soil protector. Manure!!!!!! just think in 15 years there will be no questions like this anymore. cant see anyone still doing full tillage in 15 years. conventional farming is not sustainable and will fade away. white mold, drought issue, erosion, wet spots, SCN are all side effects of modern farming. do not spend 1 nickel on bio products for soil health. all the soil life you need is in the soil there is no need to spend any money on bio products. take that blue juice money and buy covers, add more crop diversity and stop tillage and you will reduce fertility inputs, fuel, labor equipment..... and the bug life will explode!!

[@tomcampbell815]

How exactly does having roots in the soil build organic matter? Do the roots provide food for the microorganisms in the soil?

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren addressed your question on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/02-19-21-farmer-friday#t=43:18

[@Forester-qs5mf]

Yes. Root exudates feed microbes and form stable organic carbon at depth. The more plant diversity the faster this happens. Integration of grazing animals also speeds the process. Maximise plant diversity and photosynthesis to build soil fastest.

[@rickkern5785]

You Missed the most important ---Adding animals. Put animals on the land to eat cover crops and increase fertility. Get the animals out of your pens and onto the fields.

[@adebayoolufemi2074]

Dr. Meagan from colorado university did an experiment on this and it turned out great...... Thank you for adding this

[@beasmartfarmer]

what does it mean by reducing tillage?

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren addressed your question on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/06-14-22-pigweed-escapes-in-corn-and-soybeans?#t=57:27

[@robertpayne2717]

Building and replacing humus is whats critical

[@AgPhD]

Brian addressed your comments on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/10-04-21-harvest-updates?si=b263fa1215964b6e95a0f51591b354bd#t=55:25

[@bobwelch8317]

Use humate, the most organic soil supplement on the planet

[@yoriichi3347]

I'm using humic acid.

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren replied to your comment on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/06-15-21-pigweed-escapes-in-soybeans-or-corn#t=44:34

[@pietersnyman6221]

Working lots of organic matter into the soil with sufficient amounts of subsoil microbes added builds C% quicker. Manure/compost feeds exclusively weeds. Humus feeds crops. Roots and residue builds Humus. Humus is not compost

[@pietersnyman6221]

Ooh and stop using chemicals of all kinds

[@AgPhD]

Brian and Darren addressed your comments on Ag PhD Radio: soundcloud.com/agphd/12-21-20-prepay-benefits-and-risks#t=58:10