Soil stability is a sticky situation

Authors: Franzluebbers, Alan

Submitted to: Hay and Forage Grower
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2024
Publication Date: 7/24/2024
Citation: Franzluebbers, A.J. 2024. Soil stability is a sticky situation. Hay and Forage Grower. August 2024:9.

Interpretive Summary: Soil stability is an important characteristic to avoid soil degradation with erosion and impairing water quality with sediment in runoff. An ARS scientist in Raleigh, North Carolina described how long-term land management systems typically control soil stability. Management systems with minimal soil disturbance and abundant surface plant residues had greater soil stability. Grassland management varied across 31 farms in Virginia and these management characteristics were assessed for their contribution to soil stability. On average, soil stability was at a high level across all grassland management systems compared with conventional-till cropland. However, greater soil stability index was achieved with older pastures having moderate stocking rate and relying on as much internal nutrient cycling as possible. A variety of cattle stocking methods was shown to achieve high soil stability index so that nutrient-rich surface soil stays on the farm and out of waterways. This summary of soil stability index continues a series of popular press articles aimed at farmers managing forage and grazing lands in the US.

Technical Abstract: Soil stability is an important characteristic to avoid soil degradation with erosion and impairing water quality with sediment in runoff. An ARS scientist in Raleigh, North Carolina described how long-term land management systems typically control soil stability. Management systems with minimal soil disturbance and abundant surface plant residues had greater soil stability. Grassland management varied across 31 farms in Virginia and these management characteristics were assessed for their contribution to soil stability. On average, soil stability was at a high level across all grassland management systems compared with conventional-till cropland. However, greater soil stability index was achieved with older pastures having moderate stocking rate and relying on as much internal nutrient cycling as possible. A variety of cattle stocking methods was shown to achieve high soil stability index so that nutrient-rich surface soil stays on the farm and out of waterways. This summary of soil stability index continues a series of popular press articles aimed at farmers managing forage and grazing lands in the US.