Soil & Water Resources Program SWR - 1

 

Ohio Soil Health Card

What Is the Ohio Soil Health Card?

The Ohio Soil Health Card evaluates a soil’s health or quality as a function of soil, water, plant, and other biological properties identified by farmers. This Card was developed for farmers by farmers with assistance from Ohio State University Extension and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS). The Card is a tool to help you monitor and improve soil health based on your own field experience and a working knowledge of your soils. Regular use will allow you to record long-term trends and changes in soil health and to compare the effects of different soil management practices. This Card is most effective when filled out consistently by the same person over time. It provides a qualitative assessment of soil health, evaluation ratings do not represent an absolute measure or value. The purpose is not to measure one soil type against another, but rather to use indicators that assess each soil’s ability to function within its capabilities and site limitations

 

 

How Do You Use the Ohio Soil Health Card?

Step 1) The only tools required to use the Card are a pencil & a shovel or spade

 

Step 2) Use the chart on the back page for the best times to assess each indicator of soil quality & health

 

Step 3) Divide your farm & fields into separate sections for evaluation in the same way you would divide them for soil-fertility sampling: separate by factors like soil type, topography, and history of tillage, crop rotation & manure application

 

Step 4) Enter the Date & Field Identification information at the top of the Card

 

Step 5) Select 2-3 representative spots in your field & evaluate each soil Indicator

 

Step 6) Read the Descriptive Ratings in the rectangular boxes, and based on your judgement rate the indicator Good, Fair, or Poor by checking the small square in the lower left-hand corner of the box with the best description

 

Step 7) In the Notes section following each group of soil health indicators, record any observations or soil conditions that will help you review & evaluate your ratings

 

Step 8) Follow changes in each of the soil health indicators over time, examine current field management practices, and explore options & consider alternatives for management changes in problem areas

Ohio Soil Health Card

Date: ___________ Field Identification: _______________________________

Indicators

Descriptive Ratings
Good Fair Poor

SOIL TILTH
Good crumb structure, tills easily leaving no clods, soil breaks apart easily Moderate crumb structure, some clods, soil breaks apart with some pressure Hard, tills with difficulty tillage creates lots of clods

Structure

Soil maintains open/porous surface all growing season, seeding emergence not affected Some surface sealing, minimal effect on seeding emergence Soil surface seals easily after tillage and rain events, inhibits seeding emergence

Crusting
Loose soil, unrestricted root penetration Firm soil, root penetration somewhat restricted Hard layers, tight soil, severely restricted root penetration

Compaction
Notes:
SOIL LIFE
Lots of earthworms, many holes and casts Some earthworms, few holes and casts No visible signs of earthworm activity

Earthworms
Soil had a fresh, earhty smell Soil has a little or no smell Soil has a swampy, stagnant smell

Smell
Residue at various stages of decomposition on soil surface and in the topsoil Some visible, non-decomposed residue in the topsoil Rapid decomposition with little or no visible residue in the topsoil or very slow decomposition with relatively unweathered residue in the topsoil

Residue Decompostion
Notes:
SOIL AIR & WATER
Soils drain and warm quickly in spring, limited delays in field operations, good balance between air and water in the soil, yield reduction in only very wet years Soils drain and warm more slowly in spring, some delays in field operations, water-logged after heavy rains, minimal yield reduction Soils stay wet for long periods, delays in field operations, soil doesn't breathe, reduces yields

Drainage
Soil holds water well, deep topsoil for water storage, crops seldom suffer from moderate dry spells Soil has moderate capacity to hold water, crops are not the first in the area to suffer from dry weather Soil has limited capacity to hold water, crops suffer in moderate dry spells

Water-Holding Capacity
Rainfall soaks in, very little runoff & erosion, water does not pond Absorbs water, but more slowly, some runoff & erosion, ponding after heavy rains Absorbs water very slowly, lots of runoff & erosion, ponding after moderate rains

Water Movement
Notes:
PLANT VIGOR
Uniform deep-green color, rapid growth, even stand (height & population), no visible signs of stress Some variation in color, height & population, moderate growth, mild stress Uneven color, variable height & population, stunted and stressed, nutrient deficiency symptoms

Uniformity in Growth & Color
Rapid and even emergence Some variability in emergence Slow and uneven emergence

Seedling Emergence
Healthy, uninhibited root growth, lots of fine roots Root growth somewhat restricted, some fine roots Restricted root growth, few fine roots
Root Systems
Notes:
FERTILITY MANAGEMENT
Soil test levels are adquate for planning crops and yields goals, no visible signs of plant nutient deficiency One or more soil test levels are less than adequate for planning crops and yield goals, no visible signs of plant nutrient deficiency One or more soil test levels are deficient or excessive for planning crops and yield goals, visible signs of plant nutrient deficiency may be present

Nutrient Levels
pH levels are within the acceptable range for the planning crops pH levels slightly above or below the acceptable range for planning crops pH levels are too high or too low for the planning crops

Soil pH
Organic matter levels are being maintained or increased, dark, friable, with good structure Organic matter levels can be improved, some crusting and clods Organic matter levels are decreased, light-colored, crusted, cloddy, hard

Organic Matter

Best Times to Assess Indicators
   

Growing Seasons

 
 

Early Spring Before Planting

 Spring Summer Fall After Rainfall

Structure (when moist)

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Crusting

  

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Compaction

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Earthworms

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Smell (when moist)

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Residue Decomposition

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Drainage

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Water Movement

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Water-Holding Capacity

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Uniform Growth & Color

  

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Seedling Emergence

  

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Root Systems

  

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Nutrient Levels

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pH

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Organic Matter

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Farmer creators: Barbara Francis, Miami SWCD; Keith Kemp, Ohio No-Till Council; Charles Eselgroth, Innovative Farmers of Ohio; Jesse VanFossen, Ohio Soybean Council

Editors: Peter Bierman, OSUE; Norm Widman, NRCS; Rich Gehring, NRCS

Facilitators: Brian Slater, OSUE; Bob Hendershot, NRCS

Farmer Advisory Committee: Earl McKarns, Ohio Forage & Grasslands Council; Mick Luber, Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association; William Scholl, Delaware Co.

OSUE Sustainable Agriculture Team, Soil Health Committee: Keith Dix, IFO; Ken Simeral, OSUE; Ben Stinner, OARDC; Phil Rzewnicki, OSUE; Mardy Townsend, IFO

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

 

OSU Centers at Piketon: Piketon Research & Extension Center / Extension Enterprise Center, 1864 Shyville Rd., Piketon OH 45661; Phone: 1-800-297-2072 (Ohio only) or 740-289-2071; Fax: 740-289-4591; http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~prec 2/99