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Soil Health

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LREC Soil Health Webpage Cover Photo
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SOIL HEALTH: for Present and for Future

North Dakota’s greatest natural resource is its land and soils. Remediating soil health issues such as salinity, sodicity, high magnesium (Mg2+) levels versus calcium (Ca2+), poor water infiltration, decreasing organic matter levels and lack of plant diversity will improve soil health for present day profitable and thriving farms, ranches and rural communities.

For the long-term improvement of soil health and sustainability of our agriculture, there are several practices producers can integrate into their operations over time. These practices will help reduce soil disturbance and loss of topsoil, increase soil organic matter, aggregates, pore space and water infiltration by improving structure and will maintain fertility by increasing nutrient and water holding capacity. In addition, application of livestock manure and introduction of cover crops in the rotation on a regular basis will add plant and microbial diversity and preserve and sustain soil health for future generations.

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Research Reports
Impact report on the effectiveness of field tiling in different types of soils. 
Impact report on saving money and improving soil health. 
Impact report on what should we do first on sodic soils; tile or apply the amendments 
Newspaper article on soil salinity and sodicity. Includes a table of different soil types showing their PH, EC, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, and Exchangeable Sodium %. 
Newspaper article on how cover crops can help fix soil erosion leading to healthier soil. Determining soil erosion types including, wind erosion, water erosion, and tillage erosion and reviewing the role of cover crops. 
Publication on soil organic matter and its benefits including soil properties, decomposition process, functions, and practices that can increase soil organic matter levels.
Research report on the salt and sodicity tolerance of barley, oats, and durum.
Research report on how salt and sodicity tolerant barley, oats, and durum are.
NDSU Langdon REC tiling project newspaper article providing a brief overview of the installation of this project. 
Getting your worst areas analyzed by knowing what to test for, zoning the sampling areas, and conducting sampling and analysis. 
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