The drought monitor report as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, July 25 is essentially unchanged since last week for our area. The western third of the state improved, especially near the Colorado border where a substantial chunk of the southwest corner is out of even abnormally dry conditions. Northeast Kansas is still backsliding a bit into moderate drought. This heat wave will likely intensify our drought conditions. The six to ten-day outlook (Aug. 1 to 5) indicates a 50 to 80% chance of leaning above normal for temperatures and a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal precipitation. The eight to 14-day outlook (Aug. 3 to 9) indicates normal to a 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal temperatures and continued 33 to 40% chance of leaning to above normal for precipitation. We can use the precipitation but by this time of the summer, it tends to be much spottier and less general.
Today, how do we accomplish the goals of regenerative agriculture discussed the previous two weeks. Keep in mind the goals are to improve the whole ecosystem, make production more resilient, be economically sustainable, improve the overall quality of life, be flexible, and must be tailored to the region and each individual farm. To remember soil conditions degraded over many years and decades so it will take time, patience, and management skills to produce a resilient, productive soil.
• As was stated last week, implement as diverse a crop rotation as practical for the area. Minimize soil disturbance while controlling weeds. We need to develop good soil structure and porosity, especially macropores, to decrease all types of erosion and improve infiltration and water holding capacity.
• In addition to the first bullet point, the key is increasing soil organic matter levels as this will improve soil structure, water holding capacity, soil nutrient levels, and the microbial community. Minimizing/eliminating tillage helps build organic matter levels but it will take time to increase stable organic matter, humus. So how can we increase organic matter levels as quickly as possible?
• Cover crops left to decompose on the soil surface helps dramatically. However, the success of cover crops and the ability to produce crops for harvest is rainfall/temperature dependent. A diverse cover crop with legumes such as peas, vetches and clover are valuable but they are very expensive and the benefits are greater the longer the crop is allowed to grow which can be a challenge during dry conditions. Even a fall cover crop like spring oats or even rye can help though. As cover crops are implemented, over time they will aid in reducing soil water loss from surface evaporation and improve infiltration and water holding capacity.
• Animal manure is also a benefit to building organic matter when available. Surface applied is fine but where slurry manure is available, injection is even better. Composted manure is fine but not as good a food source for microbes.
• All of this not only increases organic matter but also help promote a healthy, more resilient microbial community key for good soil health.
• In certain ways this is a return to agriculture from over a century ago minus the animals for pulling implements.
Dr. Victor L. Martin is the agriculture instructor/coordinator for Barton Community College. He can be reached at 620-792-9207, ext. 207, or martinv@bartonccc.edu.
