Page 10 - MWC 3-30-2023s

THE FUNDAMENTAL living creatures and their The Midwest Cattleman · March 30, 2023 · P10
continued from page 2 activity. Earthworms create
burrows in the soil, which
INDICATORS OF SOIL enables water to move down
HEALTH deeper into the soil. These
You can go out to the pas- burrows also create channels
ture and dig up some soil for roots to grow into. Earth-
with a shovel to get an idea worms and other insects, as
of your soil’s health. As you well as soil microbes, play
start applying the soil health important roles in nutrient
principles, notice how these cycling.
indicators of soil health Soil Structure
change over time. Soil structure is the ar-

Cover rangement of soil particles
Soil cover can be evalu- in different shapes and sizes,
ated in many ways, but the called aggregates. Soil aggre-
simplest is to look straight gates are created when biotic
down at the soil surface and glues hold these soil parti-
see if it is covered or bare. cles together. The microbes
Soil could be covered in some that create these glues must
important ways. The best thrive in order to continuous-
way is by green plants. How- ly replace the biotic glues, or
ever, the surface could also the soil aggregates will col- ly during drought. processes as part of their op-
be covered with dormant or lapse. Look for soil aggrega- erations.
tion that has increased pore Smell
dead plants, plant residue,
manure or even rock. As soils space; the more pore space, Healthy soil smells fresh Energy Flow
get healthier, more of the the more water can infiltrate. and earthy, thanks to an or- It all begins with the sun.
surface will be covered with You want to see soil sticking ganic compound called geo- Plant leaves are the solar
green, growing plants. to the roots even when you smin. Geosmin is produced panels that drive the ener-
shake the plant. You also by active soil actinobacteria. gy flow, commonly referred
Color want to see a soil texture sim- The smell of unhealthy soil to the energy cycle. A plant
Notice how dark the soil ilar to cottage cheese or choc- has been described by some uses this energy to turn car-
is. Generally speaking, the olate cake. The soil should as like hot copper pennies. bon dioxide into food for itself
darker the soil, the higher crumble easily and not sim- Soil that smells like rotten and soil microbes, which in
the organic matter and car- ply turn to dust. When it gets eggs lacks oxygen and may turn becomes forage for graz-
bon content. Soil is typical- wet, it should retain some of be a sign of poor drainage. ing animals and ultimately
ly darkest in the uppermost that crumble and not get so Erosion protein for humans. To en-
layers of the soil profile, and watered down that it would It doesn’t matter how sure this process functions
it lightens as depth increas- easily wash away. optimally, we need to ensure
es. Soil organic matter and healthy the soil is if it erodes plants are always present
soil organic carbon are pri- Rooting Resistance away. Likewise, it is impossi- and are given adequate time
mary drivers in biologically You don’t want to see a lot ble to build healthy soil while to recover from grazing.
active soil systems. of layers of compaction, or it is eroding away. Signs of
plow pans, in the soil. These wind erosion can often be Water Cycle
Biological Activity restrictive layers limit root seen by looking for scouring The amount of water on
Healthy soil is alive, mean- penetration and water infil- with deposition behind plants Earth is finite, and it cycles
ing it’s biologically active and tration. Another sign of this and rocks. Signs of water ero- through evaporation, precipi-
teeming with microorgan- issue is seeing “J” rooting, sion can be seen by looking tation, infiltration (or runoff)
isms and macroorganisms. which happens when a root for soil and litter movement and transpiration. One of the
We cannot see the microbes starts growing at a 90-degree which will look like little ways water moves through
with the naked eye, but we angle after hitting one of dams across the path water the cycle is through its abil-
can look for earthworms, these restrictive layers. This has traveled downhill. Signs ity to permeate the soil. The
earthworm castings, dung situation can cause forage of erosion can also be seen amount of water that ranch-
beetles, and evidence of other growth limitations, especial- when there is pedestaling ers can capture on their land
around and under plants and can be impacted by their
rocks. grazing management prac-
ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES tices. We want to make sure
the ground is covered with
Ecosystem processes are
the foundation upon which plant life and that soil mi-
crobes are available to form
all the other regenerative soil aggregates — which help
principles and concepts are turn the soil into a sponge
built. that soaks up air and water.
Ecological principles rec- Nutrient Cycle
ognize that all ecosystems In this cycle, energy and
(including your ranch) func- water are transferred be-
tion through four intercon-
nected processes. These are tween living organisms and
the nonliving parts of the en-
nature’s ways of operating,
which means that regenera- vironment. Frequent distur-
bances, such as grazing, help
tive ranchers seek to under-
stand and work within these maintain the aboveground
nutrient cycle. Biotic activity,