Sustainable Soil Management

At Pro-Soil, we strongly believe that the secret to a higher crop yield lies in the implementation of sustainable soil management practices. By introducing Pro-Soil agricultural products to your farm, you will help to produce a stronger root system, and therefore healthier crops, through the increased quality of the soil in which your crop resides. Pro-Soil agricultural products will:

  • Improve Soil Structure
  • Increase Root Mass
  • Free Up Soil Reserve Nutrients
  • Increase Fertilizer Efficiency
  • Enhance Residue Decomposition
  • Improve Yield Potential

Reduce Soil Compaction

sustainable soil management

To properly manage your soil, we recommend that farmers improve their soil structure by reducing compaction caused by farm equipment. Compaction, reduces soil porosity and restricts root growth. Crops grown in compacted soil will never actualize their full potential above the surface if their root zone is damaged. To give you a better idea about how your farm equipment may be damaging your soil, see the table below which outlines the average farm equipment axle loads:

This table shows typical axle loads for several categories of equipment. The recommended axle load is below 10 tons whenever possible.

 

EQUIPMENT AXLE LOAD (TONS)
Slurry tanker, 4,200 gallons 10 to 12
Slurry tanker, 7,200 gallons 17 to 18
4WD tractor, 200 to 325 hp 7 to 13
4WD tractor, 530 hp 18
Terra Gator, rear axle 12 to 18
Class 9 combine, 590 hp, 360 bu 20
Grain cart, 1,200 bu, 1 axle 35 to 40
Common limit on public hard-surfaced roads 8 to 10

It is also important for soybean farmers, corn farmers, and other farmers to introduce biological soil amendments, such as Pro-Soil’s PS-Foundation 1-0-1. PS-Foundation can help to improve the vital carbon content in the soil and encourage vigorous plant growth. Our agricultural products will also help to free up nitrogen and other important nutrients that have become locked in soil over time.

Crop rotation is key to sustainable soil management as well. Adding third-crop perennials to further build the soil can help to sustain soil structure. Balancing and fine tuning crop rotation can help you achieve 100 bushel soybean harvests!