Soil Management and Fertilizer Use:
Managing Soil Organic Matter

Excerpt from Agronomy Guide for Field Crops (Chapter 2)

Order OMAFRA Publication 811: Agronomy Guide for Field Crops

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Manure and Other Organic Additions
   • Manure
   • Biosolids and Residuals
3. Updates on Soil Management and Fertilizer Use: Managing Soil Organic Matter
4. Related Links...

Introduction

Soil organic matter is an important component of soil. It is a key part of the nutrient cycle, holding soil moisture and soil structure. The soil organic matter pool in the soil is always changing and is similar to a bank account. Farming practices add or withdraw from the pool or account. Practices such as conservation tillage, good crop rotation, cover crops, manure and other organic material additions and controlling erosion add or maintain organic matter. Excessive tillage and soil loss withdraws from the account.

Manure and Other Organic Additions

Manure

The nutrient content of manure will be discussed in the section Manure Analysis.
The following should be considered when using manure as an organic matter source:

• Manure will add organic matter but also adds nutrients. Follow the recommendations for manure application. See The Value of Manure.
• The organic matter content of a manure will vary depending on the type.
• The application rate will also determine the amount of organic matter added to the soil.

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Biosolids and Residuals

Biosolids and residuals are another option for adding organic matter to soil. Biosolids are the organic-based materials resulting from municipal wastewater treatment processes and are regulated under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act. Residuals are waste materials produced by commercial or industrial processes and may be organic or inorganic in nature. Residuals applied to agricultural land are also regulated under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act. As with manure, the type of biosolid and rate of application will determine the amount of organic matter added to the soil. For more information, refer to the section Biosolids and Residuals Use on Agricultural Land.

Updates on Soil Management and Fertilizer Use: Managing Soil Organic Matter

No updates available at this time.

Related links...

• Soil Management

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