Soil Texture in Field Depressions Key to Nutrient Delivery

Soil composition can make or break yield output before a seed is even planted. Areas that excel in water retention can one year, provide max results, and the next be flooded. University of Minnesota Extension Soil, Water, and Climate Professor Anna Cates talks about these lowland depressions, and their soil structure differs from other fields. “In terms of soil carbon buildup and processing, the main thing to think about is how the texture and structure of soil at the depression level is going to be different and going to hold carbon more effectively. It makes such a big difference in terms of the nutrient delivery and the ability of the soil to hold water.” Cates isn’t sure that waiting for such spots to dry makes much of an economic difference. “It’s more of a logistical question than a biophysical one here. Two weeks more or less of growth for your cover crop is probably not the deal breaker here, but instead it’s when you can get weed sprayed and either get a high clearance piece of equipment or a drone or something to get some cover crop seed spread.”