Mark Bailey: Growing crops starts with good soil
To better understand how to effectively grow crops in Florida, we first need to understand what good quality soil is and how it can be created. Good soil is going to have the necessary characteristics to effectively support the growth of a crop. Naturally, the particular needs of each crop may vary somewhat. The most important characteristic is how well soil can hold onto water. Other beneficial soil characteristics include how well it drains, existing nutrients, soil pH, organic matter and beneficial soil microbes. To improve soil, it will require knowledge, time and effort.
Some growers may be lucky and already have naturally good soil; however, poor management can lead to significant degradation of soil quality. At any point where the soil surface is disrupted or devoid of plant growth, this creates an opportunity for soil erosion to occur. The loss of topsoil removes critical nutrients and organic matter, affects the soil pH, reduces beneficial soil microbes, and pollutes the rivers and streams with runoff. Erosion can be prevented by locking bare soil in place with the help of vegetation above ground and the roots underground. Cover crops are an excellent choice to decrease or prevent further soil degradation.
Soil that can hold onto water provides the crops with numerous benefits. Firstly, plants are going to be more productive when they have consistent access to soil moisture. A wilted plant is not a growing plant. Nutrients also are taken up in the roots as the nutrients dissolve into a solution. If there is inadequate soil moisture, nutrients also cannot be taken up. There are several factors that affect how well soil can hold moisture, and the two most important are soil texture and presence of organic matter. The finer the soil particles, the more soil will hold onto moisture — and the same is true with the presence of organic matter. As organic matter increases, so too does moisture retention. While soil moisture is extremely important, adequate soil drainage also is an important factor.
Key nutrients, such as nitrogen and potassium, have dramatic effects on crop yields and are commonly lacking in most Florida soils. To determine the current state of soil, take a soil sample. It can provide critically important information regarding the nutrient content and pH of the soil. This information can be used to make precise applications of fertilizers based upon what the crop needs. Soil pH also is important because as pH increases or decreases it greatly affects the availability of nutrients for plants to uptake.
A common theme thus far has been that good soil will have substantial organic matter and it needs special attention. Soils often take decades or centuries to form; however, soil can be regenerated faster by maintaining vegetative growth and adding the appropriate amount of nutrients a crop needs to the soil. Organic matter is the cornerstone of building good soil, and effort needs to be taken to constantly build and maintain high-quality soil. The addition of organic matter, such as composted material, can help to feed beneficial soil microbes. These beneficial soil microbes often form symbiotic relationships with plants, helping them grow and increase crop yields. Increasing organic matter in general is extremely beneficial and will help hold in moisture and nutrients.
The foundation of a successful crop is going to be built upon good soil, and good soil doesn’t often happen by chance. A grower needs to understand the crop’s needs and provide those needs as effectively as possible. Good soil is something that can be built and maintained with the right application of knowledge, time and effort.
For more information, call the Marion County Extension office at 671-8400 or email ironhill@ufl.edu
— Mark Bailey is the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Extension Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Marion County. For more information, contact the Marion County office at 352-671-8400. The Extension Service is located at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala, FL 34470.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Mark Bailey: Growing crops starts with good soil
