NRCS-AZ Improves Ability to Serve Farmers, Test Soil Quality

PHOENIX, July 10, 2008—  Imagine two neighboring fields, both growing food for our country. They look the same, but one field absorbs an inch of water in a mere 33 seconds. The other field takes almost five minutes to soak up the water.  

Farmers wanting to achieve the most out of their soil and water can turn to the Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS-Arizona, along with farmers in Cochise Country, got to see a new tool to help improve soil quality. Charles Kome, NRCS soil scientist at the NRCS East National Technology Support Center, shared his expertise with Cochise County farmers and NRCS employees June 25-26 on the NRCS Soil Quality Kit. 

The kit tests 11 different soil qualities, and it can help NRCS and farmers learn if their land management decisions are resulting in improvements to their land. “Instead of just saying your fields will improve, we have data,” said Don Walther, NRCS cropland specialist.  

Glenn Williams’ pecan orchards near Douglas received the first visit by Kome and the NRCS Soil Quality Kit. Williams started in the pecan business in 1991, buying the first 10 acres of what is now a 560-acre operation.  

“If you have a farmer as established as this (Glenn Williams), you can help them make good decision,” said Kome. 

The soil quality kit, made specifically for NRCS, was designed by the Agricultural Research Service. The NRCS Soil Quality Institute adapted the kit for general use by adding a soils guide and several tests, including aggregate stability, earthworms, soil slaking, and selected soil morphological observations. 

“I think that the kits are quite important, even among experienced farmers,” said Art Meen, NRCS resource planner. “Some of the demonstration, especially the infiltration, made it very clear the changes that occur in soil quality with exceptional management.” 

In addition to Williams’ pecans, two neighboring fields with drastically different histories were tested. The results from the soil kit showed what a difference can be made to the land even in the Arizona desert climate. 

One field had been in farming for 50 years. No tillage to very minimal tillage of the soil had been in place for the past 10 years. High-residue crops, such as corn and oats, have added to the organic matter.  

In the second field, it sat idle for more than 20 years. With 2008 being the first year of production, it had to be tilled. The readings from the soils kit demonstrated the different health conditions of these soils.  

The soil temperature in field one was more than five-degrees Celsius cooler. The pH in field one was 7.2, compared to 8.7 in field two. And most significantly, field one needed a lot less water. The intake rate for one-inch of water was only 33 seconds in field one, compared to four-and-a-half minutes in field two.  

“The nice thing about using this is kit that it gives you a baseline. We have numbers to go by, not just an observation,” said Eddie Foster, NRCS soil conservationist in Safford.   

The following tests can be done with the NRCS Soil Quality Kit

· Measuring Soil Quality - discusses sampling and site characterization

· Soil Respiration Test - indicates the soil's biological activity 

· Infiltration Test - measures the soil's ability to take in water through the soil surface

· Bulk Density Test - measures the soil's compaction or pore space

· Electrical Conductivity (EC) Test - measures the salt concentration in the soil

· pH Test - measures the soil's acidity or alkalinity

· Soil Nitrate Test - measures the soil's nitrate levels

· Aggregate Stability Test - measures the amount of water stable aggregates

· Slake Test - estimates the stability of soil fragments in water

· Earthworm Test - measures the number of earthworms in the soil

· Soil Physical Observations and Estimations - shows how to observe soil structure and root patterns and how to estimate topsoil depth, penetration resistance, and soil texture in the soil profile

· Water Quality Tests estimates salinity and nitrate/nitrite levels in water 

NRCS-AZ is scheduled to receive some of these soils kits. If you are interested in learning more about them or having an NRCS professional come to your farm with the soils kit, contact Don Walther at 520-670-6602, extension 232 or Bruce Munda at 520- 292-2999 extension 102.

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