Increased emphasis being placed on the benefits healthy soil biology. By Frank Giles | Editor, Florida Grower
While the use of biological products remains relatively low in cotton, the discussions on the importance soil health and biology are ramping up in recent years. Growers are beginning to take action to learn more about the nutritional and water-efficiency benefits healthy soils can provide.
This interest could be a good sign for the fast emerging and evolving biologicals market. Products that improve the uptake of nutrients in the soil could become attractive to cotton growers, if they are priced right and show a return on investment. The use of cover crops promoting soil health already is becoming a common practice.
In addition, Corteva recently announced a deal with Andermatt Biocontrol to license a bioinsecticide for worm control. Cotton will be among the crops that will be a focus for the product. Other large multinationals are getting into the biocontrol market as well.
David Lamm, Project Manager, Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton at the Soil Health Institute and Jason Carter, Richland County South Carolina farmer, discuss the benefits of adopting soil health management systems. Carter increased the soil organic matter levels by 1.5% providing additional plant available water. Source: Soil Health Institute
Front and center of the soil health conversation has been the Soil Health Institute, which has initiated the Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton program. “The science is clear,” notes Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Soil Health Institute. “Regenerative ag practices help to store more carbon in soils, which not only benefits a cotton farmer’s bottom line, but also improves water quality and helps fight climate change. The Soil Health Institute is committed to providing the latest scientific research, measurements, educational resources and economic information that will help more cotton farmers adopt these highly beneficial soil health systems.”
The Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton program hosts regional webinar/video series that are posted at SoilHealthInstitute.org. Some feature on-farm instruction from growers that are utilizing practices to improve soil health.
One video in the series features David Lamm, Project Manager, Healthy Soils for Sustainable Cotton at the Soil Health Institute, visiting Jason Carter, a Richland County South Carolina farmer. Carter outlines the benefits of adopting soil health management systems. One key practice has been the adoption of cover crops. This has allowed him to eliminate the use of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer on cropland and reduce the amount of nitrogen used for corn and cotton. Carter has increased soil organic matter levels by an average 1.5%, providing additional plant-available water.
“Eight years ago, when we started with the cover crops, we decided to start running some test trials to see how much we could cut back on the phosphorus and potassium that we were applying,” Carter notes.
Carter adds the cover crops have built organic matter, which yields benefits. “We are definitely [seeing benefits] with the organic matter and its nitrogen and moisture holding,” he says.
“We're getting so much more moisture that we can hold in the ground. We figure we have increased organic matter by 0.6% to 1.6% on the farm. Having 1% more organic matter is just like having another inch of water out there. In South Carolina, we have a saying that we're always two weeks away from a drought. With our low organic matter and our extreme heat, we can't hold the moisture."
