Show Notes
Building soil organic matter has become a common goal for farmers looking to improve soil health, but increasing soil organic matter levels can be harder than we'd expect.
In this episode, host Amy Crozier is joined by Andrew McGuire, Irrigated Cropping Systems Extension Agronomist and Grant County Director with Washington State University, to explore what influences soil organic matter (SOM) and which management practices can actually help build or maintain it over time.
They discuss the balance between biomass inputs and losses, how harvest and erosion affect SOM, the value and limitations of different soil-building practices and debunk the claim that nitrogen fertilizer burns up SOM. Andrew also shares how growers can evaluate soil health products, set realistic expectations and focus on practices that address measurable problems in their fields.
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