Will Your Crops Survive the Flood?
Flood warnings were put into effect for parts of the upper Midwest. When floods occur, we often consider the damage it can have to our crops and soil. You put in the hard work to achieve a healthy soil, only to be drowned by excessive water. Natural events and harsh weather are a reality that will continue to exist, so the best course of action is to be prepared and understand how the damage can be fixed.
What Happens to Soil After a Flood?
When a flood occurs, all that water is basically waterlogging your root system. This is a problem because it is preventing oxygen from reaching the root system which can cause root death depending on how long it is submerged for.
Aeration is key for plant and root health, without it, root-rot organisms can thrive and will attack.
How Does Flooding Affect Soil Quality?
Flooding can affect nutrient levels and cause soil erosion. On top of that, you may have to deal with sediment deposition and an accumulation of crop residue.
According to Jason Clark, assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist, “soil lost due to erosion can take with it valuable plant-available nutrients and organic matter, deposition of sediments from floods may increase the level of nitrogen, phosphorus, silicon and potassium in the soil, and water soluble nutrients such as nitrate-nitrogen and potassium can be leached past the crop’s rooting depth and potentially into the groundwater.”
You might automatically assume that only nutrient losses occur during a flood. However, because of processes like the deposition of sediment, its possible than an excess of vital nutrients can occur. The best way to determine what condition your soil is in after a flood is to test it.
Advanced Soil Nutrition
While you can’t control mother nature, you can surely work toward repairing the damage. The best way to do this is through Pro-Soil’s biotechnology products.
We have several products such as:
These are all technologically engineered to deliver advanced soil nutrition to existing soils. Designed specifically to increase the energy in the soil, increase the biological complexity of the soil and increase root growth of the plant, no matter what type of crop your growing, they will surely benefit from our below ground management products.
The next time devastating weather hits, protect your crops and soil with Pro-Soil.
Give us a call at 1 (800) 714-4903 and visit our website to explore our extensive list of resources and helpful tips.