Take good care of your soil and it will be a lasting reward. Abuse or neglect it and your crops and the environment will suffer. Eroded, compacted soils cannot produce the bumper crops possible with healthy soils.

Healthy Soils:
* Supply enough water and air for plant growth.
* Hold and release plant nutrients steadily.
* Increase with infiltration.
* Host a large and diverse population of soil organisms.
* Have a loose consistency so that roots, water, and equipment can pass easily.

What can you do to improve or maintain healthy soils on your farm?
* Manage organic matter. Healthy soil contains an abundance of organic matter and living organisms. Soils low in organic matter cannot perform. Practices that increase organic matter include leaving crop residues on the surface; planting or under-seeding with cover crops; choosing crop rotations that include high residue plants; applying manure or compost; using residue management practices, especially no till; and mulching.

* Maintain chemical balances. Don't overload your soil with nutrients. Practice nutrient management and maintain or achieve a desirable pH.

*Avoid compaction. Excessive traffic or tillage, working soils when wet, or leaving bare soil exposed to heavy rains all cause soil compaction or crusting.

* Conserve topsoil. Use conservation measures to control erosion and runoff.

Crop Residue Management, also called conservation tillage, leaves last year's crop residue on the surface before and during planting operations. Residue improve soil tilth and adds organic matter for a healthy, living soil.

Cover Crops, are close-growing crops that cover the land to protect the soil when crop residues are not adequate. Crops such as cereal rye, oats, winter wheat or legumes are planted to temporarily protect the ground from wind and water erosion during times when cropland isn't adequately protected against soil erosion. Cover crops add organic matter to the soil.

Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture