Soil & Water Management

Various soil and water management practices exist which will minimize soil loss and evaporative water loss, while providing a good environment for crop establishment.

The Soil Health Exchange: Terrace Effects on Soil Fertility and Yield

The Soil Health Exchange team shares insights and potential solutions for a southwest Nebraska farmer who has observed a significant yield decline in a field after terraces were built in 2010.

Crop Progress: Soil Moisture, Pasture Conditions Decline

Soil moisture supplies and pasture conditions in Nebraska were on a downward trend as of Nov. 12. Corn and sorghum harvest remain on track, with less than 10% of each crop to be finished.

The gift that keeps giving: manure important resource for crop producers

Manure is like a slow-release fertilizer for our crops, sort of like the gift that keeps on giving. Kristen Sindelar with the Midwest Messenger shares what she learned by attending the "Saving Money by Using Manure on Crops" workshop.

Substituting Commercial Fertilizer with Manure a Focus of Annual Manure Training Events

It’s that time of year again and I’m here to help you stay on track for that New Year’s resolution to “Manure Better”. That wasn’t your resolution? I’m sorry, but it would be a great resolution and an achievable one at that, so add it to your list. My New Year’s resolution is to help crop farmers “Manure Better”. The annual land application (manure) training events are coming up soon and may be just the ticket to “help me, help you”.

The Soil Health Exchange: Addressing Waterlogging Issues with Soil Health Management

Fields with diverse soil types can pose distinct challenges in water management, especially under pivot irrigation. In this article, UNL experts review factors that contribute to waterlogged soil and several practices that can improve drainage issues.

Dryland Cropping Systems to be Focus of Upcoming Nebraska Soil Health School

The first Nebraska Soil Health School of 2024 will feature presentations on the impact of tillage, biochar and cover crops, soil health measurement and carbon markets, and more.

Thompson Discusses New Nitrogen Management Tool on RFD-TV

Nebraska Extension Educator Laura Thompson shares insights on how UNL's new nitrogen tool will help farmers determine fertilizer needs for their operation and find more success in their overall farm management goals.

UNL Researchers Advance Soil Health Cycle Concept

Inspired by an extension event survey comment, Dr. Bijesh Maharjan, associate professor and extension specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center, conceptualized the soil health cycle (SHC) as an iterative soil health management cycle to achieve agricultural sustainability.

Pasture and Forage Minute: Early Season Irrigation, Controlling Alfalfa Weevil

Alfalfa is a tough perennial with established rooting depths down eight feet or more. Depending on deep soil profile moisture, some varieties can extend spring dormancy and survive up to 45 days without rainfall. However, forage yields drop dramatically, since alfalfa requires about six inches of root available water to produce one ton of forage per acre.

The Impact of Spring Rainfall on Available Soil Moisture

Nebraskans in the eastern part of the state have recently experienced good rainfall during April and early May. This was a much-needed relief, especially considering the dry winter with minimal rainfall/snowfall and the dry 2023 growing season. While rainfall is always welcomed, assessing whether the received rainfall was sufficient to recharge soil moisture to adequate levels is not an easy task. This information plays a crucial role in planning the first irrigation event of the season and estimating the duration until water deficit begins to affect crops in dryland fields.

Various soil and water management practices exist which will minimize soil loss and evaporative water loss, while providing a good environment for crop establishment.