Soil HEALTH DROUGHT STRESS AND SOIL By Taylor Elverson, Soil Health Coordinator for South Dakota Soybean Association
T
his growing season has plagued numerous South Dakota farmers and ranchers with the effects of drought on their crops and livestock. From my perspective in eastern South Dakota, drought symptoms in crops have been evident for weeks. Lighter, stress-prone soil types have shown symptoms for even longer. Hay yields have been significantly below average, and this fall, the combine will show yield & moisture variability both within and among fields. However, much like the old saying, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,” there is always a silver lining to be found in these challenging years. Droughts give us the chance to evaluate our soil types and soil fertility. Dry conditions highlight soil types with lower water holding capacities and exacerbates fertility issues in fields. Any way we can learn about our farms and work to conserve moisture will only give us an advantage in the next growing season.
Taylor Elverson
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS South Dakota
The following article by Madhi Al-Kaisi, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach gives a great perspective on what these drought conditions do to our soils and how we can best navigate through them. Even though this article is from the perspective of Iowa production agriculture, this information is still very much relevant to South Dakota growers. In addition, a gentle reminder that the practices mentioned and suggested in this article are not a ‘one-all-cure-all’ to manage drought years. Other practices, including manure applications, are also helpful in mitigating the effects of drought and should be kept in mind, as every operation is different.
ABOUT TAYLOR ELVERSON Taylor Elverson is the Soil Health Coordinator for South Dakota Soybean Association. Growing up on a farm in southern Minnesota, Taylor has always had a passion for production agriculture and being a good steward of the land. This led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agronomy along with a master’s degree in plant pathology, both from South Dakota State University. In her role as Soil Health Coordinator, Taylor provides soil health education and conservation education practices to farmers. She is also able to connect growers with a mentor network where they can receive personalized conservation tactics – ensuring success for South Dakota farmers for years to come. 28
Fall Issue 2021
SDSL
