Soil Ag Mag

Faces of Mississippi’s Larry Oldham

Kevin Kennedy

Mississippi State Extension Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Area Conservationist

Extension Soils Specialist

g a M g A SOIL

An agricultural newsletter for kids from

After studying soils in graduate school, I went into Extension because I get to apply my science knowledge to improve people’s lives.

What types of skills do you need to be a soil scientist?

Soil science is the intersection where the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics are applied.

Communication and critical thinking skills are required to do this.

What does a soil scientist study in school?

Lots of science!

Do you enjoy your job?

Yes! It is different every day.

A good resource for teaching schoolchildren about soil is http://www.soils4teachers.org/home. More information about soil can be found at Soil Education/NRCS. NRCS stands for Natural Resources Conservation Service.

SOIL TESTING LAB

The Mississippi State University Extension Service Soil Testing Laboratory provides service for farmers, landowners, gardeners, and anyone else with an interest in the fertility level of a soil.

The lab analyzes soil samples submitted by the public through their local Extension offices. Recommendations for plant nutrition are then provided based on the results that may or may not include fertilizer or lime additions.

More information on gathering soil samples, sending them in, and understanding the results are available through the Extension offices or http://MSUcares.com/.

What types of skills do you need to be a conservationist?

We at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) need people who are committed to action. People who want to apply their education and experience to making sure that all of us enjoy the benefits of productive soil, clean water, clean air, and the abundant wildlife that comes from a healthy environment.

People who are motivated and committed to action make great conservationists. People who have these skills are easily trained on the job to be a good conservationist.

What does a conservationist study in school?

A bachelor’s degree or higher that includes a major field of study (including 300-level courses) in soil conservation or a related agriculture or natural science discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agriculture education, or agriculture engineering. The study must include 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agriculture field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soil and plant science.

Do you enjoy your job?

I enjoy my job very well. I have worked with the agency for 32 years in various parts of the state. I enjoy working with people and agencies in conserving our natural resources. Mississippi is blessed to have such an abundance of natural resources, and nowhere in this great country is there a better place to work in the conservation field than Mississippi.

Farmers are also conservationists. One way farmers conserve soil is to use no-till, or zero-till, farming. This is a way of planting crops without disturbing the soil.

This technique increases the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil and helps the soil keep organic matter. It also helps maintain vital nutrients in the soil. In many areas, it can also reduce or eliminate soil erosion, or wearing away of the soil over time.

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This issue of Ag Mag is compliments of:

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What is your job at Mississippi State? Why did you decide to do this?

I am the statewide Extension soils specialist working in soil fertility (helping crops grow), soil management (protecting the soil), and environmental stewardship (protecting the entire landscape).

What is a conservationist, and what do they do?

A soil conservationist is a trained planner who is knowledgeable in various ways to treat the land to conserve our natural resources. As a Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservationist, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll spend most of your time in the field working with farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land users. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll offer conservation planning and technical help to everyone from family farmers to local government officials. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll suggest to them ways to conserve the soil, improve water quality and quantity, manage nutrients, restore wetlands, and protect and improve wildlife habitat. A soil conservationist assists the local Soil and Water Conservation District in addressing local conservation priorities and helping carry them out.

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What is a soil scientist, and what does a soil scientist do?

A soil scientist studies and manages the mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air which forms on the surface of the land. Most life on earth depends on this soil for food, feed, fuel, forages, fiber, and pharmaceuticals. It is vital in sustaining humans, farm production, and environmental stewardship.

II

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Issues of Ag Mag can be purchased at cost: 20 for $5.

Contact the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department at pjones@msfb.org or 601.977.4854.

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation ÂŽ

When you get down to the nitty gritty, all life depends on soil. It is one of our most important natural resources. To have life, you must have soil and to have soil, you must have life. The entire world, and all of the ecosystems in it, are dependent on soil. Soil is part of what makes Earth different from all of the other planets.

Soil is made up of mineral particles (sand, silt, and clay), humus or organic matter (rotting plants), gases, liquids, and tons of tiny organisms, both living and dead. Soil is more than just dirt. Dirt is the name for the mineral part of soil. Soil is home to earthworms, moles, grubs, centipedes, millipedes, snails, slugs, beetles, ants, fungi, insect larvae, bacteria, mushrooms, and many other organisms.There are more living things in a spoonful of soil than there are people in the world. Most of what is â&#x20AC;&#x153;aliveâ&#x20AC;? in soil is microbes like bacteria that can only be seen with a microscope. Each one of us relies on soil every day, whether we realize it or not.

Of course, the most obvious way is through agriculture. Soil is essential to growing the materials used to make our food, clothing, fuel, and shelter. However, soil also acts as a filter for clean water, provides a foundation for your home, and helps the atmosphere by emitting and absorbing gasses and dust.

Soil under the microscope at x400 magnification we can see fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and protozoa.

S W R E Z I L I T R E F Q J T

B N O I P N T S O P M O C L P

Y L I R P T O K K S J D H H C

K X M A M O T I S C E T O R T

Soil types differ from place to place. Mississippi is unique because it has so many different types of soils.

Of the 12 types of soil found in the world, Mississippi has eight.

M X U R L S R E S N D S R O D

C E D P F P O E S O P J H N N

B M Y D L L L I S H R S U E A

H C O N A X T A O P K E M G S

F R V A T Y F R T C A S U O B

W F D L W L U T U S O C S R V

D O W K O S I B C I A E E T J

G M Z C O N C S L Z C O T I P

B A E A D E L T A C F S C N V

I S L L S Y A L C A S G F V Z

Y L F B P O T A S S I U M P W

BLACKLAND BUCKSHOT CLAY COASTAL PLAINS COMPOST DELTA DENSITY EROSION FERTILIZER FLATWOODS HUMUS LOESS NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS PORE SPACE POTASSIUM SAND SILT SOIL WORMS

Soil particles

You will need: 1-quart jar 1-cup soil sample Note: Potting soil will not work. ruler

All soil is made up of three types of mineral particles, SAND, SILT, & CLAY, mixed in with organic matter and micro-organisms. When these particles are together in soil, their particle size allows air, water, organic matter, and organisms to pass between the particles. This is called pore space. Sand particles are the only part that can be seen by the naked eye. Sand is the largest of the three and has a coarse, gritty texture. Sandy soil is not best for plants, because water moves through it too quickly. Silt and clay particles cannot be seen individually. Silt is the second-largest and has the consistency of flour. Silt feels smooth and soft. Clay is the smallest and it holds water very well. When wet, clay feels sticky to the touch. This activity will explore different particles that make up soil.

ACTIVITY

Collect a one-cup or more soil sample.

CAUTION: This activity will NOT work with most potting soils, as they are mostly organic matter.

Place one inch of soil into a one-quart jar. Add water until the jar is 2/3 to 3/4 full. Add one teaspoon of alum.

This activity was adapted from the Educator’s Guide that accompanies the book Seed, Soil, Sun by Cris Peterson. The guide was created by the American Farm Bureau® Foundation for Agriculture.

This region makes up the Southern Mississippi Valley Alluvium, better known as the Delta. These soils come from sediment left behind by flooding of the many rivers in the region, mainly the Mississippi River and tributaries. It is unique, because it is not just a fan formed at the mouth of the river, but an entire region. Delta soil is mainly used for row crop farming. Soils are very diverse in the Delta region.

This region is formed by windblown silt. This area has some very deep deposits, forming some large bluffs. Natchez silt loam, a soil that makes up about 170,000 acres in this area, is considered the Mississippi state soil.

This region is part of an arc that spans the coast from New Jersey to Texas. These diverse soils are best used for pasture land and forestry. The northern portion of the Coastal Plain is commonly called the Mississippi Sand Clay Hills. The southern Coastal Plain is the “Piney Woods” region of the state.

There are two “Blackland Prairies,” one in northeastern Mississippi in the Tupelo, Aberdeen, and Columbus area, and another, smaller one, in and near Scott County in south-central Mississippi. Many of the soils are very dark, like midwestern prairies.

This is an area of shallow shale-based soils within the upper Coastal Plain. The nearby “Blackland Prairie” soils form from chalk rocks rather than shale.

This is a mainly forested area between the marshes and the Coastal Plain.

These are zones of marsh along the Gulf of Mexico which differ from the rest of the state. This area is almost treeless, has marsh vegetation, and is uninhabited. It is part of the SH transition of rivers and streams into the Gulf of T MAR S A O C Mexico that supports Gulf marine life.

GULF For more information about Mississippi soils, visit www.msucares.com/crops/soils/index.html.

E H T IF NDORM W

Have you ever heard someone call sticky mud Buckshot mud? Soils with a large amount of clay particles (the smallest basic soil solid) have some unique features. When these soils dry, small round a balls form at the surface that look like shotgun There is ried buckshot, hence the popular name for Delta clay orm bu small w ere in soils, “buckshot.” Soils with large clay contents somewh ag.

M have very slow water infiltration rates; this this Ag find it? makes the area a good location for aquaculture Can you and rice production.

small bowls spoons water

alum (optional)

(Alum is a water softener found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores. It helps the soil settle faster, but is not necessary). Be sure the lid is on very tight. You may also use 3 or 4 inches of soil if you would like to see larger layers. Just be sure to record the depth you start with so you can accurately determine the soil particle by layer.

Shake the jar vigorously until all the particles are sufficiently wet and separated by the water. About two minutes.

Set the jar down and allow the soil to settle.

After one minute, take the ruler and measure the amount of sand on the bottom of the jar and record this information.

Allow the soil to settle for three to four hours, then measure again and record the level of the silt.

The next day, the rest of the soil should have settled, depending on the amount of clay in the sample. Observe and remeasure the layers and record their results.

FARMS NEED FERTILIZER

Just like humans must sometimes supplement our diet with vitamins, soil needs a boost from fertilizer. Over time, soil can become depleted after crops and gardens are planted year after year. Adding fertilizer can help give soil the nutrients it needs to continue to grow healthy plants. There are three main elements in fertilizer:

NITROGEN

PHOSPHORUS POTASSIUM

Nitrogen is present in air and soil and makes up 78 percent of the atmosphere. It can be depleted by certain crops, such as corn. This is why a farmer will rotate crops from year to year. For example, corn may deplete nitrogen from the soil one year, so a farmer may grow soybeans in that field the following year. Soybeans add nitrogen back into the soil.

Phosphorus is an element in the nitrogen family. It is necessary to help plants with photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is how plants store and use light from the sun to make food. Along with light, plants also need carbon dioxide and water for the process. Phosphorus is especially important early on as a plant begins to grow.

Potassium is an essential nutrient for plant growth found in soil. A small amount is available to plants, so sometimes farmers will need to add it through fertilizer. Potassium is associated with movement of water, nutrients, and carbohydrates in plant tissue. If soil lacks potassium, growth is stunted and yields can be reduced.

Composting with Red Wigglers

Peggy McKey of Edwards composts food waste from her kitchen using red wiggler worms.

The worms turn the waste into vermicompost, a dark nutrient-dense soil amendment she uses in her garden.

Peggy’s compost bins include a bathtub and a watering trough, which she covers with boards. The bins sit in a barn behind her house. The bedding material in the bins consists of shredded black and white newspaper (no colored ink allowed), hay, and leaves, which must be kept moist but not wet. The bins are opaque (worms do not like light), well ventilated, and well drained.

Red wigglers can eat about half their weight in food each day.

“Red wigglers eat almost anything but meat and fat,” Peggy said.

“They are primarily vegetarians. They don’t even eat peanut butter because it has too much fat.”

Peggy feeds her red wigglers fruit and vegetable cores, hulls and peels; tea bags; coffee filters with grounds; cereal; bread products; and paper plates and napkins. Sand and crushed egg shells are added to assist the worms with their digestive process. The worms eat the food waste and bedding material then excrete worm castings. Over time, the castings and well-decomposed bedding material become the dark soil-like vermicompost.

By spring, both of the compost bins will be full of vermicompost.

“I use shovelfuls of this in my garden,” she said. “It makes a great fertilizer.”

For more information on composting with red wiggler worms, contact Peggy at 601.624.8888 or peggycmckey@gmail.com. Also, see the article in the May/June 2015 issue of the Mississippi Farm Country magazine.

Faces of Mississippiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Larry Oldham

Kevin Kennedy

Mississippi State Extension Service

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Area Conservationist

Extension Soils Specialist

g a M g A SOIL

An agricultural newsletter for kids from

After studying soils in graduate school, I went into Extension because I get to apply my science knowledge to improve peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives.

What types of skills do you need to be a soil scientist?

Soil science is the intersection where the basic sciences of chemistry, biology, mathematics, and physics are applied.

Communication and critical thinking skills are required to do this.

What does a soil scientist study in school?

Lots of science!

Do you enjoy your job?

Yes! It is different every day.

A good resource for teaching schoolchildren about soil is http://www.soils4teachers.org/home. More information about soil can be found at Soil Education/NRCS. NRCS stands for Natural Resources Conservation Service.

SOIL TESTING LAB

The Mississippi State University Extension Service Soil Testing Laboratory provides service for farmers, landowners, gardeners, and anyone else with an interest in the fertility level of a soil.

The lab analyzes soil samples submitted by the public through their local Extension offices. Recommendations for plant nutrition are then provided based on the results that may or may not include fertilizer or lime additions.

More information on gathering soil samples, sending them in, and understanding the results are available through the Extension offices or http://MSUcares.com/.

What types of skills do you need to be a conservationist?

We at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) need people who are committed to action. People who want to apply their education and experience to making sure that all of us enjoy the benefits of productive soil, clean water, clean air, and the abundant wildlife that comes from a healthy environment.

People who are motivated and committed to action make great conservationists. People who have these skills are easily trained on the job to be a good conservationist.

What does a conservationist study in school?

A bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree or higher that includes a major field of study (including 300-level courses) in soil conservation or a related agriculture or natural science discipline such as agronomy, soil science, forestry, agriculture education, or agriculture engineering. The study must include 30 semester hours in a natural resource or agriculture field, including at least 12 semester hours in a combination of soil and plant science.

Do you enjoy your job?

I enjoy my job very well. I have worked with the agency for 32 years in various parts of the state. I enjoy working with people and agencies in conserving our natural resources. Mississippi is blessed to have such an abundance of natural resources, and nowhere in this great country is there a better place to work in the conservation field than Mississippi.

Farmers are also conservationists. One way farmers conserve soil is to use no-till, or zero-till, farming. This is a way of planting crops without disturbing the soil.

This technique increases the amount of water that infiltrates into the soil and helps the soil keep organic matter. It also helps maintain vital nutrients in the soil. In many areas, it can also reduce or eliminate soil erosion, or wearing away of the soil over time.

FBLLBLLB

This issue of Ag Mag is compliments of:

> <E :LLKH MA H

F

G

>= >K :MBHG

What is your job at Mississippi State? Why did you decide to do this?

I am the statewide Extension soils specialist working in soil fertility (helping crops grow), soil management (protecting the soil), and environmental stewardship (protecting the entire landscape).

What is a conservationist, and what do they do?

A soil conservationist is a trained planner who is knowledgeable in various ways to treat the land to conserve our natural resources. As a Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservationist, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll spend most of your time in the field working with farmers, ranchers, foresters, and other land users. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll offer conservation planning and technical help to everyone from family farmers to local government officials. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll suggest to them ways to conserve the soil, improve water quality and quantity, manage nutrients, restore wetlands, and protect and improve wildlife habitat. A soil conservationist assists the local Soil and Water Conservation District in addressing local conservation priorities and helping carry them out.

: @ B

What is a soil scientist, and what does a soil scientist do?

A soil scientist studies and manages the mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air which forms on the surface of the land. Most life on earth depends on this soil for food, feed, fuel, forages, fiber, and pharmaceuticals. It is vital in sustaining humans, farm production, and environmental stewardship.

II

B ? Â&#x2020; ? :K F ;NK>:N

Issues of Ag Mag can be purchased at cost: 20 for $5.

Contact the Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department at pjones@msfb.org or 601.977.4854.

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation ÂŽ

When you get down to the nitty gritty, all life depends on soil. It is one of our most important natural resources. To have life, you must have soil and to have soil, you must have life. The entire world, and all of the ecosystems in it, are dependent on soil. Soil is part of what makes Earth different from all of the other planets.

Soil is made up of mineral particles (sand, silt, and clay), humus or organic matter (rotting plants), gases, liquids, and tons of tiny organisms, both living and dead. Soil is more than just dirt. Dirt is the name for the mineral part of soil. Soil is home to earthworms, moles, grubs, centipedes, millipedes, snails, slugs, beetles, ants, fungi, insect larvae, bacteria, mushrooms, and many other organisms.There are more living things in a spoonful of soil than there are people in the world. Most of what is â&#x20AC;&#x153;aliveâ&#x20AC;? in soil is microbes like bacteria that can only be seen with a microscope. Each one of us relies on soil every day, whether we realize it or not.

Of course, the most obvious way is through agriculture. Soil is essential to growing the materials used to make our food, clothing, fuel, and shelter. However, soil also acts as a filter for clean water, provides a foundation for your home, and helps the atmosphere by emitting and absorbing gasses and dust.

Soil under the microscope at x400 magnification we can see fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and protozoa.

S W R E Z I L I T R E F Q J T

B N O I P N T S O P M O C L P

Y L I R P T O K K S J D H H C

K X M A M O T I S C E T O R T

Soil types differ from place to place. Mississippi is unique because it has so many different types of soils.

Of the 12 types of soil found in the world, Mississippi has eight.

M X U R L S R E S N D S R O D

C E D P F P O E S O P J H N N

B M Y D L L L I S H R S U E A

H C O N A X T A O P K E M G S

F R V A T Y F R T C A S U O B

W F D L W L U T U S O C S R V

D O W K O S I B C I A E E T J

G M Z C O N C S L Z C O T I P

B A E A D E L T A C F S C N V

I S L L S Y A L C A S G F V Z

Y L F B P O T A S S I U M P W

BLACKLAND BUCKSHOT CLAY COASTAL PLAINS COMPOST DELTA DENSITY EROSION FERTILIZER FLATWOODS HUMUS LOESS NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS PORE SPACE POTASSIUM SAND SILT SOIL WORMS