What is the Agricultural Importance of Soil Structure?

 

Climate change is a reality that is becoming more obvious with every passing day in most parts of the world. Some countries are experiencing drought, while others are looking for ways to manage severe bouts of rain. Both extremes could have a devastating impact on crop yield.

Agriculturists and farmers are looking for resilient equipment to maximize the efficiency of lands and strengthen the soil structure during the process. This is because soil plays a crucial role in life on our planet. It is home to many native species and helps store water and carbon to prevent flooding, droughts, and climate crisis. Nearly 96% of global food production also relies on the soil. However, soils worldwide are becoming degraded at an alarming rate.

Soil’s ability to deliver all the benefits is closely linked to its structure. This has increased awareness of the importance of maintaining good soil structure in agricultural and environmental policies.

What is Soil Structure?

The soil structure is known to be the arrangement of clay, silt, sand, organic matter, and other soil particles into blocks, crumbs, and granules. It’s the shape the soil takes based on chemical, physical, and biological properties. Without structure, soils suffer from water-logging, anaerobism, and nutrient lock-up, which leads to crops dying.

Like soil texture, the structure also impacts the aeration and drainage capabilities of the soil. Well-structured soils are friable and crumbly, with much pore space to allow air and water movement and healthy root development. It helps reduce soil erosion and improves drainage caused by surplus surface runoff.

Factors that Impact Soil Structure

· The presence of bugs, worms, and other organisms in the soil

· The amount of organic matter and weeds in the soil

· Tillage activities

· Size and presence of colloids in the soil

· Water movement and flow

· Thaw or freeze occurred in the soil

Ways to Improve Soil Structure

#1- Regulate the Amount of Organic Matter in the Soil

Adding manure and other fertilizers helps increase the amount of degrading organic matter in the soil, which helps the soil regain its strength. It also provides plants with nitrogen, which is crucial for healthy growth.

Introducing cover crops is also a good way to add organic matter and improve soil surface. But if your soil needs fewer organisms, turning and tilling will help. But it’s important to closely monitor the soil to ensure the organic matter balance isn’t disturbed.

#2- Increase Organisms in the Soil

The natural bacteria and critters in the soil help hold it together while digesting and stabilizing the soil structure. They also help decompose the particles to improve soil health.

#3- Responsible Tilling

Soil disturbance and tilling are important to keep the land operable. But it’s important to use equipment that has a minimum impact on the overall soil structure. However, this doesn’t mean you can compromise its role in aeration or overall efficiency.

Compared to other surface irrigation methods,such as furrow irrigation, center pivot irrigationcan mitigate soil tillage. Therefore, it helps mitigate soil erosion and water runoff and encourages crop residue and more organic materials to decompose back into the soil, reducing soil compaction.

If you’re looking for a reliable supplier, Flatwater Sales Inc. is one of the leading center pivot contractorswith a loyal customer base across the US. The online store offers a range of quality irrigation supplies.

 You can check out kifco and rainbow pumps, snap boots and cable, center pivots, solenoid valves, pivot tires, control panels, running lights, U joints, and other parts. They also offer used center pivots.

They also deal in big gun sprinklers on wheels, lima mac generators, motor lead cables, collector rings, and rainwater reels for sale, among many other products.

Reach out by giving them a call at 402-300-3113 for more information.