S6 - E10: Cover Crops, Wind Erosion, and Snirt with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. II
About this episode
The episode discusses soil erosion caused by wind and rain, emphasizing the importance of cover crops and soil organic matter in agriculture.
Soil loss and erosion can occur by rainfall or wind. Kim Melton, the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission, emphasizes that soil loss by wind erosion is farmers' and soil conservationists' number one resource concern because crop fields are so flat throughout the region. The movement of soil off cropland and the landscape by wind or rain means critical nutrients and soil organic matter are also being lost. Building up, maintaining, and keeping soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil through cover crops and crop rotations is particularly important for preventing erosion and retaining moisture. One percent of SOM equates to about an additional 14 days of moisture for crops. Farmers want soil to be a sponge. Similarly, farmers keep the soil covered and armored to prevent "snirt" (that is, snow plus dirt) from sullying road banks and rural views during the winter months. To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/ . For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit…
More episodes of 4 The Soil: A Conversation
- S6 - E15: Grassland Birds and Forages with Justin Proctor of the Smithsonian's Virginia Working Landscapes
- S6 - E14: Keeping Soil Active with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland, Part II
- S6 - E13: A Life Rooted in Soil Health with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland, Part I
- S6 - E12: From Biosolids to Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, Part II
- S6 - E11: Small and Expansive Wonders with Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal, Part I
- S6 - E9: Moving Agriculture Forward with Kim Melton of the Red River Basin Commission, Pt. I
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