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SOIL HEALTH SOLUTIONS

CARBON

On a soil test, the #1 predictor of yield is Organic Matter (also known as Carbon). At Soil Health Conferences, the #1 component talked about is Carbon.

 

Definition of Carbon: A widely distributed element that forms organic compounds in combination with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, sulfur, manganese, copper, and boron. 

Carbon is also known as:

  • Organic Matter (on a soil test)               

  • Trash                             

  • Cover Crops

  • Black soil                                                 

  • Residue                       

  • Humate

The agricultural evolution of carbon: 

1. Carbon was more abundant prior to the plow.  John Deere invented the plow and away we went, and so did the carbon.  

2. Bare ground prior to planting was the widely accepted practice. 

3. We used to call Carbon "trash" and we treated it like trash. "Let's bury it."

4. Then began the era of Conservation Tillage. 

  • Trash (Carbon) became known as residue. 

  • We began to manage the residue (Carbon). 

  • We developed an appreciation for it, but wanted to spread it out uniformly from the back of the combines and move it out of the furrow with the planter.  

  • No-Till was next.  Let's leave the residue alone and plant through it.  Maybe move it out of the way of the row.  But we finally stopped destroying the residue (Carbon).  

  • Strip Till followed. The happy medium of tillage of 30" centers with full no-till in between the rows. The compromise of "We love residue, but we want it black for the corn to pop up." 

  • Cover Crops.  Now we are Planting Green.  The thought process of "We don't have enough carbon via last years residue. Let's add more and plant through that."

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What value does Carbon provide:

1. Increases water infiltration, soil water holding capacity, and soil tilth while reducing compaction and erosion.

2. Increases microbial activity for faster decomposition of residue and greater availability for the next crop.

3. Provides a cation for fertilizer to stick to (versus becoming immobilized, denitrified, or leached) allowing it to be more readily available to the crop.

What’s the quickest, easiest, most readily available form of carbon that farmers can add to their program?  FAS HUMATE

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FAS HUMATE

BENEFITS                 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • Stabilizes nitrogen

  • Aids in drought stress

  • Increases soil structure

  • Increases water filtration

  • Mitigates the effect of saline soils

       and high magnesium soils

2 qt

2 gal

2 gal

2 gal   

5 gal

IRRIGATION SAVINGS

• It costs approximately $70 to pump 14 inches of water, which is $5 per inch.
• Dr. Mir, PHD, with 30 years of experience at the University of Idaho, has proven that FAS Humate will conserve 11.2% of your water usage.
• $70/acre x 11.2% = $7.84/acre savings in water.

WATER INFILTRATION

  • 400 mL of water was poured into the cylinders.

  • Without FAS Humate, the soil absorbed 50 mL of water & there is sediment.

  • With FAS Humate, the soil absorbed 275 mL of water & there is no sediment.

FAS Humate improves High Sodium (Saline) and High Magnesium Soils
 

FAS SWEET

BENEFITS

• Liquid sugar source
• 7% Nitrogen
• Includes 4 forms of sugar (glucose, dextrose, fructose, sucrose)
• Feeds and stimulates soil microbes
• Compatible with most herbicides and fertilizers

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

  • 1 Quart per acre for one pass.

  • 1 Pint per acre if applying multiple passes per year

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