Soil Nutrition
This is how often farmers and gardeners should test their soil.
What is every 3-5 years?
This type of erosion occurs naturally and can be described as a natural leveling process.
What is geological erosion?
This is one characteristic of urban soils.
What is compaction, highly contrasting soil layers, and contamination?
This is the biggest challenge farmers face when transitioning from conventional to organic farming.
What is pest control?
All organic / living or once living organisms contain this element.
What is carbon?
This beneficial fungus enhances plant roots and aids in nutrient uptake.
What is mycorrhizae?
This type of soil erosion is human-induced. Soil is washed, blown, or scraped away faster than new soil can be formed.
What is accelerated erosion?
These are areas covered in vegetation and designed for recreation and conservation in urban areas.
What are green spaces?
This is the key to soil conservation in certified organic farming.
What is keeping the ground vegetated / covered for as much of the year as possible?
This is one benefit of OM in soil.
increased water holding capacity
What is
food for microbes
plant nutrients
binds sand, silt, and clay particles
improved airflow
?
This plant family should be incorporated into crop rotations for its ability to add biological nitrogen to soil.
What are legumes?
This is the minimum wind speed required to move soil.
What is 10 mph?
This is how urbanization disrupts the hydrologic cycle.
What is impermeable layers (like pavement) reduce water filtration?
This is how weeds are managed in certified organic farming.
What is mulch and cover crops?
This is how soil microbes influence nutrient availability in soils.
What is eating OM and pooping it out?
This is the ideal pH range for nutrients in the soil.
What is 5.5 to 7.0?
These large channels are formed by rapid water erosion and can damage entire landscapes.
What are gullies / gully?
This is one way to improve water infiltration in urban areas.
What are rain gardens or permeable pavement?
This is 1 way to maintain plant diversity in livestock grazing pastures.
What is planting legume + grass mixes
planting cool-season + warm-season mixes
grazing animal diversity?
These are the 6 roles of soil.
What is
1. Support plant growth
2. Regulate water supplies
3. Modify the atmosphere
4. Recycle waste/OM
5. Habitat for organisms
6. Engineering medium
These 2 essential plant nutrients are only available to plants for a short period of time when applied to the soil.
What is Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K)?
These are the 3 steps in soil erosion by wind or water.
What is
1. Detachment of soil particles.
2. Transportation of detached soil particles.
3. Deposit of transported soil particles.
?
This is the purpose of a buffer zone or riparian area near urban waterways.
What is reducing contamination + sediment deposit in urban rivers and streams?
Certified organic livestock must always have access to _______________________.
What is the outdoors and a grazing pasture?
This type of tillage reduces erosion, improves OM content, increases soil biodiversity, and leaves crop residues on the soil surface.
What is conservation tillage?