Soil Management
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Good management of soils assures that mineral elements do not become deficient or toxic to plants, and that appropriate mineral elements enter the food chain.
Narrower Topics
Mulches
Any substance spread or allowed to remain on the soil surface to conserve soil moisture and shield soil particles from the erosive forces of raindrops and runoff. - NALT
Layer of organic material (e.g. crop residues) used to cover the soil in order to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and recycle soil nutrients. - AGROVOC
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management is the science and practice directed to link soil, crop, weather, and hydrologic factors with cultural, irrigation, and soil and water conservation practices to achieve optimal nutrient use efficiency, crop yields, crop quality, and economic returns, while reducing off-site transport of nutrients (fertilizer) that may impact the environment.
Related Topics: Row Crops, Soil Management
Tillage
Alternate terms: soil cultivation, soil tillage, tilling
Publications
Four Conservation Agricultural Practices to Manage Organic Soil Loss
Noel Manirakiza, Suraj Melkani, Xue Bai, Yang Lin, andJehangir H. Bhadha
This factsheet highlights four common conservation agricultural practices that can be implemented to limit organic soil loss. Organic soils (Histosol) are the most important soils that play a crucial role in mitigating global warming by acting as a repository for terrestrial carbon. Within south Florida, nearly 450,000 acres of Histosols are at risk from soil loss via oxidation, and growers would like to know the best ways to manage their soils to limit soil loss. Using the USDA-NRCS framework, we have identified four conservation practices—cover cropping, crop rotation, organic amendments, and conservation tillage—that can be implemented to address organic matter loss within the region.
Liming of Agronomic Crops
David L. Wright, David L. Wright, andCheryl Mackowiak
Other Contacts: Hardeep Singh
The primary reason for liming acid soil is to improve the yield or quality of the crop being grown. It is difficult to determine the precise factor that is responsible for the improved growth after liming because a number of soil parameters change simultaneously as soil acidity is altered.
Soil Preparation and Liming for Vegetable Gardens
James M. Stephens and Guodong Liu
A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet for Homeowner audience(s). in support of UF/IFAS Extension program: Animal Systems
When to Lime Soil and Liming Products Available in Florida
Lakesh K. Sharma, Hardeep Singh, and Thomas A. Obreza
It is essential to maintain the desired pH of the soil in order to cultivate plants that are robust and prolific. This axiom is true regardless of whether one is growing crops or plants in an agricultural or urban setting. Because it has a direct impact on the availability of essential plant nutrients, soil pH, also noted as the “soil reaction,” is a crucial factor to consider. The internet is rife with misleading information describing the concept of soil acidity and alkalinity as well as how the soil reaction affects plant growth. If you want to change the pH of Florida soil, it is not advisable to use the information found on the internet, as different types of soil require different lime quantities, types, and application techniques. In contrast, some soils may require elemental sulfur application to lower the soil pH. In Florida, recommendations to change soil pH should come from a local expert.