Collecting the first soils!

May 10, 2016

104

Collecting the first soils! Two weeks ago, I collected my first soils from a farm in Ohio that has been no-till and cover-cropped for up to 45 years! I collected soils from a couple different fields so I could make comparisons of this site. I've sieved them to break down the chunks into smaller pieces so the soil will fit well in the 4" pots that I am going to grow corn in, and stored it all in a cold room to reduce microbial activity (sort of like putting food in the refrigerator to preserve it). I've also sent them to the PSU agricultural analytics laboratory for soil tests. Interestingly, the soils all have very different levels of phosphorus and organic matter!

Ruth, Christina, and 1 other like this.

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Christina TranBacker

Aww! Little prius filled with dirt! What would make the different sites have different levels of organic matter? Were there different crops grown on each of them?

May 10, 20160

Elizabeth RowenResearcher

So, yes, in some cases there were different crops, but the theory is that by not tilling and cover cropping you can build up the organic matter in your soil. Organic matter is basically just decomposing plant and animal material which are often sources of carbon for microbial activity.

May 10, 20160

About This Project

Probiotics for plants? Fighting insects by boosting corn immune systems

The Pennsylvania State University

Beneficial soil microorganisms can boost the plant immune system. We want to know if farming practices that boost the biological activity in soil can increase plant defenses against insects. We will collect soil from various farm fields, measure how well caterpillars develop on plants grown in these soils, and isolate key microbes. If farmers cultivate soil microorganisms that help plants fight off insects, they will be able to reduce insecticides use, improving health of farming ecosystems.