Caring for the Land
Healthy soils are a cornerstone of healthy lands. Healthy soils are soils that function as a living system to continually sustain plant and animal life, protect air and water quality, and foster plant, animal, and human wellbeing. Healthy soils are key to a productive farm.
Unfortunately, many acres of farmland continue to be subjected to unsustainable agricultural practices like the extensive use of tillage, limited or no crop rotation, and overuse of pesticides and herbicides that promote poor soil health. These practices lead to soil loss/erosion, soil degradation, poor air and water quality, and loss of biodiversity.
By introducing farming practices that focus on reducing tillage, increasing soil cover, biodiversity, and the proper use of soil amendments and fertilizer, we can protect our lands and build healthier, stronger soils for the generations to come.
Maintaining soil cover – either in the form of living plants or crop residues/mulch – is integral to maintaining soil health. By acting as a barrier, living plants and crop residues protect the soil from both wind and water erosion, while simultaneously providing habitat and food for beneficial soil organisms (such as earthworms), reducing weed pressure and compaction, increasing soil moisture retention, and moderating soil temperatures.
What can we do?
Maximize plant diversity and keep soil covered and rooted:
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Rotating crops, adding new crops to rotations, cover crops.
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Keeping living plants all year round helps feed soil organisms. Depending on your farm, there are many different crops you can plant to protect the soil for example: Perennial Hay and pasture, cover crops, fall planted grain crops such as winter wheat.
Leaving crop residue, mulches, or minimizing soil disturbance:
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Changing tillage practices for example: from fall plowing to spring plowing, adopting conservation tillage, no-till. Keeping crop residues on the farm for example, don’t sell wheat straw.
Tools and Resources
Maximizing Diversity:
One important ecological principle is that diversity contributes to stability and productivity.
Diversifying Cropping SystemsThis factsheet compares continuous cropping and crop rotation systems, outlines what to consider if you want to move to crop rotation, lists tips to making it work, and describes proven crop rotation combinations.
Rotation of Agronomic CropsThis factsheet describes some of the benefits, challenges, types and opportunities for growing cover crops in post-harvest conditions in Ontario.
Winter Cover CropsThis factsheet explains different ways to inter-seed cover crops, how they benefit soil health and crop productivity, some of the challenges, tips to make them work, and
proven combinations.
Inter-Seeding Cover CropsThis factsheet provides an overview of the benefits of perennial crops, types of systems, what to consider, and guidelines for establishing and maintaining them.
Perennial SystemsUsually we think of cover crops in terms of reducing soil erosion and adding organic matter to the soil – but they can do much more.
Cover Crops: Adaptation and Use of Cover CropsGrowing peaola is the intercropping of peas and canola together in the same field, at the same time.
IntercroppingIncreasing above-ground biodiversity will enhance the natural defenses of your farming system.
Strategies for Enhancing Plant DiversityKeeping the Soil Covered:
This fact sheet outlines the benefits of using cover crops, types of cover crops, cover crops by season and things to consider before choosing a cover crop.
Cover Crop Fact SheetSoil cover and reforestation is a mechanism to protect soil from water loss.
Soil Cover ReforestationCover crops improve soil properties but promote increased biodiversity.
Soil Organic CoverThis factsheet explains the problems with bare soils, why residues work, how to work with them throughout the year, and tips for specific crops.
Residue ManagementThis factsheet describes some of the benefits, challenges, types and opportunities for growing cover crops in post-harvest conditions in Ontario.
Winter Cover CropsThis factsheet provides an overview of the benefits of perennial crops, types of systems, what to consider, and guidelines for establishing and maintaining them.
Perennial SystemsUsually we think of cover crops in terms of reducing soil erosion and adding organic matter to the soil – but they can do much more.
Cover Crops: Adaptation and Use of Cover CropsCrop Advances reports on projects funded by the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association while Field Crop News features new research and on farm project findings.
Cover Crop Recipes and Other Cover Crop ResourcesOur SmartMix calculator creates a custom cover crop mix that’s just right for your field.
Custom Cover-Crop Mixture CreatorTool to assist in cover crop decisions.
Cover Crops Decision ToolMaximizing Living Roots:
By maximizing living roots, we maximize the volume of soil that the roots occupy and we maximize the amount and types of “liquid carbon” exudates that go into the soil.
Maximize Living RootsPlants are the energy source for a healthy soil.
Living RootsThis factsheet provides an overview of the benefits of perennial crops, types of systems, what to consider, and guidelines for establishing and maintaining them.
Perennial SystemsThis factsheet describes some of the benefits, challenges, types and opportunities for growing cover crops in post-harvest conditions in Ontario.
Winter Cover CropsThis factsheet explains different ways to inter-seed cover crops, how they benefit soil health and crop productivity, some of the challenges, tips to make them work, and
proven combinations.
Inter-Seeding Cover CropsGrowing peaola is the intercropping of peas and canola together in the same field, at the same time.
IntercroppingUsually we think of cover crops in terms of reducing soil erosion and adding organic matter to the soil – but they can do much more.
Cover Crops: Adaptation and Use of Cover CropsMinimizing Soil Disturbance:
This fact sheet outlines the benefits of conservation tillage, types of conservation tillage and things to consider when choosing a tillage system.
Conservation Tillage Fact SheetSoil disturbance comes in three varieties: physical, biological and chemical.
Limited Soil DisturbanceConservation tillage is any tillage practice that retains enough of the previous crop residue, such that 30 percent of the soil is covered after planting.
Conservation TillageThe reduction in soil disturbance allows for earthworm holes and old root channels to rapidly conduct water from intense rainstorms into the soil.
Minimizing TillageIn this chapter we discuss strategies to prevent and lessen soil compaction.
Addressing CompactionThis factsheet explains mulch tillage systems, which are well suited for heavier soils, high crop residues like corn, cover crops, plowdowns, and organic amendments.
Mulch TillageThis factsheet describes types of no-till systems, their benefits and challenges, and tips for successful implementation.
No-Till for Soil HealthControlled traffic farming is a sustainable solution that confines compaction to
the least possible area of permanent traffic lanes.
Controlled Traffic FarmingOther Soil Health Resources and Tools:
This fact sheet outlines the benefits of soil organic carbon and ways to increase SOC.
Soil Organic Carbon Fact SheetThis chapter will outline how to build and maintain a healthy soil, prevent soil degradation and assess the components of a healthy soil.
Managing for Healthy SoilsThis infosheet outlines options to address concerns identified in your Environmental
Farm Plan (EFP) as they relate to soil management.
Soil ManagementThis resource outlines soil health principles.
The Joy of Soil HealthThis final strategy culminates a two and a half year process to collaboratively build a soil strategy to address these challenges.
New Horizons: Ontario's Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation StrategyThis report will outline the importance of soil health and soil health principles and practices.
Putting Soil Health FirstOrchards and vineyards are long-term enterprises. Orchard or vineyard sites must be selected carefully for both soil and climatic conditions.
Soil Management for Orchards and VineyardsWhile much of the literature and resources available to help growers navigate cover crops are aimed at larger farms, you can use cover crops at any scale.
Cover Crops Improve Soil Health, Even on a Small ScaleA tool that allows you to input your soil test results by field and calculate your fertilizer recommendations and 4R score.
Soil Test ManagerNMAN is a tool you can use to determine the best way to store, treat and use materials, such as manure, on your farm.
Using NMAN for Best Management PracticesThere are a number of simple low cost tests that can be done in the field to give an indication of soil health.
Simple Soil Health TestsWe test every sample we receive for biological, chemical, and physical properties that when tested together provide a much more holistic assessment of the health of your soil.
Soil Health Tests for GardenersInformation about the Solvita soil health test, Haney soil health test and Cornell soil health assessment.
Solvita, Haney and Cornell Tests