MERIT OR MYTH?
From the USDA NRCS SOUTH DAKOTA
In Season 1 of Merit or Myth, we discussed the issue of no-till in the context of residue management, soil water (mainly infiltration), soil temperature, weeds and economics. In reality, a companion between no-till an conventional till system is very difficult to compare is one only looks at one factor (e.g., residue). When we spoke to Dr. Randy Anderson (ARS, Brookins), he spoke of the systems synergy effect where if one stacked one practice on another (e.g., no-till, diverse rotations, cover crops), the sum of the good effects were actually greater than the individual parts.
In our second Merit or Myth season we will try to look at whole systems, first by speaking to practitioners (e.g., NRCS’s Jeff Hemenway) and researchers (e.g., Dr. Mike Lehman from Brookings ARS) who will apply the science and demonstrate that soils are living dynamic ecosystems (as opposed to a medium to grow plants). We will also be speaking to farmers who mimic nature though multiple tools that include no-till, cover crops, diverse rotations, and the use of animals in the system – we’ll tap into their knowledge and experience based on what they see and how they have been able to innovate.
In our previous video, Research Microbiologist Dr. Mike Lehman described soil microbes in healthy soils as a “division of labor.” This “division of labor” is extensive and, when cultivated through regenerative practices, works alongside the farmer.
In our third and final video, Dr. Lehman takes it a step further and shows us that these microbes aren’t just laborers, but are actually an active community that interact, communicate, and recycle plant nutrients. The end result? You guessed it: HEALTHY CROPS!
Merit or Myth‘s mission is to engage with SD farmers, researchers, and conservationists to gain a better understanding of healthy, functioning soils.
- Want to catch up on Season 1? Watch on YouTube.
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- www.twitter.com/meritormyth
Learn more about managing soil at http://www.MeritorMyth.com or visit the Soil Health Information Center at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/soils/health/ or SD Soil Health Coalition Website https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/
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