The subtle science behind soil aggregates
How building soil structure pays long-term dividend.
“Adding cover crops to a crop system helps repair problem soils quicker and boosts water infiltration – an important function of good aggregate stability,” says Andrea Basche, assistant professor in cropping systems at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).
Eco Talk: The benefits and economics of cover crops
By Judy Wright, senior agriculture specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County
Soil has been identified as being crucial in making great whisky. An academic study settles an industry-dividing debate for whisky drinkers and producers, as it has provided proof of terroir’s influence on whisky. More than 42 different flavor compounds were identified, half of which are directly influenced by the soils and climate the barley was grown in.
Recent research suggests that more than one-third of the Corn Belt in the Midwest, nearly 100 million acres, has lost its carbon-rich topsoil.
“We lose 4.5 tons of topsoil every single year, and we only replace that with about half a ton,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who was sworn in as 32nd secretary of agriculture on Feb. 24.