About
The Soil Health Demonstration is managed jointly by the Central Stark, Dunn, and Western Soil Conservation Districts in cooperation with the Dickinson Research and Extension Center.
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the impact a diverse crop rotation, that includes cover crops, can have on regulating the water cycle, sustaining plant and animal life, filtering and buffering organic and inorganic materials, and cycling nutrients. Adoption of strategies to improve soil health by producers will also improve water quality, make more efficient use of naturally occurring moisture, sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide and reduce energy intensive inputs that will reduce costs and increase profitability.
All crops and cover crops on the demonstration fields will be seeded without tillage. Seeds will be planted with a disk-opener drill or planter designed for no till planting, be broadcast, or otherwise planted without tillage. Crops (including cover crops) will be harvested for seed or forage either mechanically or with livestock, leaving sufficient cover to protect the soil and promote soil health.
The goal of this demonstration project is to implement a cropping system that minimizes soil disturbance, maximizes crop rotation diversity, increases the amount of time that living roots permeate the soil and improves soil health by promoting a balanced and active soil food web.
The objective of this project will be to demonstrate the implementation of an agricultural system including forage production that maximizes improvement in soil organic matter and soil health.
Measurements – Soil Health indicators will be measured according to the procedures outlined in the Soil Quality Test Kit Guide found at: http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/test_kit.html and by procedures established by the USDA Agriculture Research Service.
Expected Results – By implementing a cropping system that minimizes soil disturbance, maximizes crop rotation diversity and the amount of time that living roots permeate the soil it is expected that soil health will improve as indicated by the soil health measurements conducted during the demonstration period.
Duration - The duration of this demonstration project will be ten years.
Technology Transfer/ Education – The demonstration will serve as a site for education and technology transfer for producers, educators, conservationists and others interested in soil health. Educational events will be held at the demonstration at various times during the year to maximize technology transfer to interested persons and groups. Other educational materials will be developed on appropriate media (print, electronic, broadcast) as determined by the managing group.For more information on crop rotation intensity and diversity visit Dakota Lakes Research Farm or download a copy of the Crop Rotation Intensity and Diversity spreadsheet.