Soil

Man squats near demo table while speaking — Riley Hackbart, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientist, discusses the results of the live rainfall simulator at a previous Nebraska Soil Health School event. Hackbart will have the rainfall simulator and soil health demonstrations at the Sept. 4 Nebraska Soil Health School at Fort Robinson State Park. (PREEC photo)

New Focus for September Nebraska Soil Health School

August 7, 2024

The next soil health school will focus on integrated crop and livestock system goals and objectives that might affect soil health management. Attendance is free, and certified crop advisor CEUs will also be offered.

People stand in group for photo — **Figure 1.** Participants of the Centennial Celebration and Congress of the International Union of Soil Sciences: (Back row, from left) Andy Gregory, Rothamsted, United Kingdom; Tim Reinbott, Missouri; Jim Wang, Louisiana; Filippo Benedetti, UN FAO, Italy; (front row, from left) Bijesh Maharjan, Nebraska; Audrey Gamble, Alabama; Sabina Braun, Uppsala, Sweden; Hans-Jörg Vogel, Bad Lauchstädt, Germany. (Not pictured: Lukasz Uzarowicz, Poland, and Dian Fiantis, Indonesia)

Historic Experiments Gathered at IUSS Congress — Nebraska’s Knorr-Holden Plot Takes Global Stage

August 2, 2024

Scientists from across the world met in May to share findings from their 100-plus-year-old experiments, emphasizing the impact of agriculture on the environment at the national and international level.

Center pivot in corn field — Starting to irrigate too soon can lead to wasting water, poor soil environment, increasing costs, and leaching nitrogen which can result in lower yields.

Soil-Water-Plant Interaction Basics

June 12, 2024

As irrigation season approaches, producers may find it beneficial to review the basics on how soil, water and plants all work together to grow crops.

Woman sits near wall of soil — Judith Turk, associate professor in the School of Natural Resources, will use an $854,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development Program to shed light on how human activity is impacting soil degradation in the Great Plains. (Photo by Craig Chandler, University Communication and Marketing)

Turk Investigating Soil Health Over Time, a Key to Climate Resilience Strategies

June 6, 2024

Turk’s research will inform soil carbon sequestration strategies and advance understanding of soil health, which is key to agricultural systems’ capacity to withstand extreme weather.

The Impact of Spring Rainfall on Available Soil Moisture

May 15, 2024

Assessing whether rainfall is sufficient to recharge soil moisture to adequate levels is not an easy task. This article covers key aspects of soil-water relations and how recent rainfall in Nebraska may affect available soil moisture for future irrigation decisions.

Saturated crop field with standing water and tire tracks — The worst compaction happens on the first pass across the field, so controlling traffic will help minimize compaction as a whole.

Strategies to Minimize Compaction During Wet Spring Conditions