Soil and Crop Biology Testing - What It Means - Why Do It

The Western Lake Erie Basin in Northwest Ohio needs to improve on agricultural practices that reduce nutrient runoff.  Nutrient runoff contributes to algae blooms in Lake Erie which have caused water quality problems.  Many farmers who produce corn, soybeans, and wheat, follow crop removal nutrient rates which result in over application and nutrient runoff.  Nitrogen application rates are also standardized and not reflective of soil and crop needs for economical production.  Standard chemical soil testing is only one measure of the soil’s ability for crop production. By using biological testing, farmers are able to better understand what fertility practices are needed for profitable crop production while limiting nutrient runoff.  Biological testing can be used to better understand the soil’s capacity for nutrient cycling and availability to the growing crop.  However, many farmers do not understand what biological tests are now available and lack knowledge on how to interpret test. Results from biological testing can be used by an ag professional experienced in regenerative practices to recommend a more sustainable cropping system.   This grant will conduct soil health testing, soil micro-organism testing, and crop tissue testing biology to analyze sustainable cropping systems compared to standard chemical inputs.