Soil Health Intro and Principles
A soil health principle that FEEDS the below ground organisms and aims to put many different plant species and root exudates in the soil system
What is maximize diversity
These two things create the organic glues that build soil aggregates
plant root exudates and soil organisms
This resource concern restricts root growth and can be measured with a penetrometer
What is compaction
A cool season grass that is the most common cover crop species seeded in Iowa
What is Cereal Rye
This type of grazing is characterized by high frequency, low intensity, long duration grazing and results in poor soil health
Continuous grazing or chronic disturbance grazing
The continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital, living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.
What is soil health
This biological hotspot includes living roots and soil biology
What is the Rhizosphere
This FIELD test can be used to measure aggregate stability in real time
What is the slump test
Warm season grasses, cool season grasses, warm season broadleaves, cool season broadleaves
What are the four plant functional groups?
This type of grazing is characterized by high intensity grazing followed by a long rest period, and can improve soil health and function
Acute, managed or adaptive grazing (Will accept any of these answers)
This soil health principle protects the soil surface from wind, water, and temperature extremes by armoring the surface with plant residues and living plants
what is Maximize Cover
This biological hotspot is the shelter or house for the soil microbes
Aggregates or aggregates surfaces
Soil organisms habitat loss, soil organic matter depletion, compaction, and _______________ are the four soil health resource cocnerns
Aggregate instability
The most flexible method for timing of cover crop seeding, but seed to soil contact can be a concern and soil moisture is crucial for success
What is aerial application?
50% - take half leave half
A clump of soil minerals (sand, silt, and clay) stuck together with organic glues that is important for soil structure
What is a soil aggregate
20 - 50% of this liquid carbon is 'leaked out' through plant roots to feed soil biology, who in turn provide nutrients for the plant
Root exudates or exudates
If the indicator of ponding/infiltration DOES NOT meet, these TWO resources concerns may exist (need both answers)
Compaction and aggregate instability
A cover crop termination method that requires plants to be mature enough that the stems can be kinked and the plant will not recover
What is roller crimping
The highest quality forage is in this part of the plant
Upper leaves
A very common soil health practice that addresses the principles of cover, diversity, and living roots
What is cover crop
These TWO biological hotspots provide food for the soil microbes
Root zone (or rhizosphere), and litter layer
This threshold is the percentage at which a planner should answer 'No' the indicator surface coverage does not meet criteria.
What is 75%
This ratio is the amount of carbon to nitrogen that WORKING bacteria need and is considered to be the 'ideal' microbial diet
24:1. vegetation with C:N ratios higher than 24:1 may cause immobilization or tie-up, plant C:N ratios lower than 24:1 may cause mineralization
The establishment and management of desired trees and forages on the same land unit
What is silvopasture