Building Drought Resiliency through Improved Soil Health

Good soil health and structure are important factors in mitigating agricultural drought by increasing water infiltration and water availability to plants. Many cultural practices, including overgrazing, biomass removal, tillage, and lack of Cover Crops and crop diversity reduce soil health and quality. Loss of soil quality results in less water infiltration and subsequently more runoff and less available water for plants. Soil health and structure can be improved and maintained through the use of no-tillage, Cover Crops, surface residue incorporation, native plants, and increased biodiversity. The objective of this project is to enhance farmer understanding of the effects of management practices on soil health, available soil water capacity, and water infiltration. Presentations and demonstrations will facilitate farmer understanding of the effects of improved soil health on drought mitigation for agricultural crops and livestock. Innovative cropping or grazing systems that increase resiliency to drought via improved soil health will be demonstrated through field days, workshops, and clinics. The effect of producer management practices on soil health and soil water will be demonstrated through use of a web-based, interactive soil health database and through soil sample testing at field days that will quantify active carbon, soil aggregate stability, and microbial diversity.