Volume 5 Issue 10
Chris Benedict, Whatcom County Extension Agent
Email: chrisbenedict@wsu.edu
Objective
Evaluate measures to improve soil health including the use of ground covers and soil amendments.
Treatments
Irrigation Regime (main-plot) –
1.) Tensiometer Driven 2.) Grower Standard
Cover Crop (split-plot) –
a.) Fall planted b.) Fall + Spring Planted (site 1) c.) Perennial Turfgrass (site 2) d.) No cover crop
Soil Amendment (split split-plot) –
i.) Composted Dairy Solids (site 1) ii.) Composted Dairy Solids + Brassica Seed Meal (site 1) iii.) Separated Dairy Solids (site 2) iv.) Separated Dairy Solids + Brassica Seed Meal (site 2) v.) No amendment
Fall Cover Crop – ‘Wheeler’ rye (50 lbs/A) + oats (50 lbs/A)
Spring Cover Crop (site 1) – Oats (10 lbs/A) + ‘Piper’ Sorghum X Sudangrass (20 lbs/A) + ‘Tillage’ Oilseed radish (10 lbs/A)
Perennial Turgrass (site 2) – Dwarf tall fescue + Fine leaf fescue
Composted Dairy Solids (site 1) – 10 tons/A (d.w. basis)
Separated Dairy Solids (site 2) – 3,500 gals/A (w.w. basis)
Brassica Seed Meal – 1 ton/A
Treatments initiated in fall 2011/spring 2012.
Take Home Messages
- Soil compaction was reduced by year two (CC, CDS), but differences existed between treatments. These differences were less pronounced by year five.
- Infiltration and bulk density was reduced in all treatments by year five.