 |
Resources
General Information Sources
ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas),
the sustainable farming information center funded by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture, provides assistance, publications and resources,
including sustainable soil management, cover crops and green manures,
farm-scale composting, and nutrient cycling in pastures, free of
charge. P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville, AR 72702; (800) 346-9140; www.attra.org
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
(AFSIC) of USDA’ s National Agricultural Library compiles bibliographies
and resource lists on topics of current interest, such as Soil
Organic Matter: Impacts on Crop Production QB 91-24, Compost: Application
and Use, QB 97-01, Legumes in Crop Rotations, QB 94-38, and Dairy
Farm Manure Management, QB 95-02. National Agricultural Library,
10301 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD, 20705-2351; (301) 504-6559;
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic
How to Conduct Research on Your Farm or Ranch,
an informational bulletin from the Sustainable Agriculture Network
(SAN), provides practical tips for laying out a research trial.
On-farm research can help you evaluate new practices such as fertilizer
rates or cover crop species. Available at: www.sare.org/publications/research.htm
Most state Cooperative Extension offices publish leaflets
and booklets on manures, soil fertility, cover crops, and other
subjects described in this book. Request a list of publications
from your county extension office. A number of states also have
sustainable agriculture centers that publish newsletters.
USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(SARE) program studies and spreads information about sustainable
agriculture via a nationwide grants program. SARE funds publications
through its Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN), and maintains
a database of more than 1,600 projects. For information about publications,
funded projects and how to apply for a grant, call (301) 405-3186
or visit www.sare.org.
The Sustainable Farming Connection website —
managed by former staff members of The New Farm magazine —
offers practical information to farmers through a diverse collection
of resources and web links on soil health, cover crops, composts,
and related topics. metalab.unc.edu/farming-connection/soilhlth/home.htm
The “Soil Biology Primer” presents an introduction
to the living soil system for natural resource specialists, farmers,
and others. This set of eight units describes the importance of
soil organisms and the soil food web to soil productivity and water
and air quality. 1-888-LAND-CARE;
landcare@swcs. org.
Manures, Fertilizers, Tillage, and Rotations
Best Management Practices Series: Soil Management,
Nutrient Management, and No-Till. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Affairs with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Provides
practical information on these subjects to farmers and crop advisers.
Available from Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Attn. Manager,
BMP, 40 Eglinton Ave. E., 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4P 3B1,
Canada.
“Crop Rotations in Sustainable Production Systems.”
Francis, C.A., and M.D. Clegg. 1990. pp. 107–122. In Sustainable
Agricultural Systems (C.A. Edwards, R. Lal, P. Madden, R.H.
Miller, and G. House, eds.). Soil and Water Conservation Society,
7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa, 50021; (515) 289-2331; http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/
The Farmer’s Fertilizer Handbook. Cramer,
Craig, and the editors of The New Farm. 1986. Regenerative Agriculture
Association. Emmaus, PA. This handbook contains lots of very good
information on soil fertility, soil testing, use of manures, and
use of fertilizers.
Fertile Soil: A Growers Guide to Organic and Inorganic
Fertilizers. Parnes, R. 1990. Fertile Ground Books, P.O. Box
2008, Davis, CA 95617; 800-540-0170.
Michigan Field Crop Ecology: Managing biological
processes for productivity and environmental quality. 1998.
Cavigelli, M.A., S.R. Deming, L.K. Probyn, and R. R. Harwood (eds.).
Michigan State University Extension Bulletin E-2646. East Lansing,
MI.
No-Till Vegetables: A Sustainable Way to Increase
Profits, Save Soil and Reduce Pesticides. Steve Groff. This
video covers the basics of sustainable no-till vegetable production,
detailing methods to control weeds and improve soil using cover
crops or plant residue on his 175-acre Cedar Meadow Farm. $21.95
plus $3 s/h to Cedar Meadow Farm, 679 Hilldale Rd., Holtwood, PA
17532; (717) 284-5152. www.cedarmeadowfarm.com
Soil Fertility and Organic Matter as Critical Components
of Production Systems. Follett, R. F., J. W. B. Stewart, and
C. V. Cole (eds.). 1987. SSSA Special Publication No. 19. Soil Science
Society of America, American Society of Agronomy. Madison, WI.
Soils for Management of Organic Wastes and Wastewaters.
Elliott, L.F., and F. J. Stevenson (eds.). 1977. Soil Science Society
of America. Madison, WI.
Soil Management for Sustainability. Lal, R.,
and F. J. Pierce (eds.). 1991. Soil and Water Conservation Society,
7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa, 50021; (515) 289-2331; http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service/Soil
Quality Institute - Agronomy Technical Notes Series. The NRCS
technical note series provides an excellent introduction to cover
crops, effect of conservation crop rotation on soil quality, effects
of residue management & no-till on soil quality, legumes and
soil quality, and related topics. Free from NRCS Soil Quality Institute,
2150 Pammel Drive, Ames, IA 50011; (515) 294-4592. http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/publications/publications.html
Soils, Soil Organisms, and Composting
Ecology of Compost. Dindal, D. 1972. Office
of News and Publications, 122 Bray Hall, SUNY College of Environmental
Science and Forestry, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210-2778;
(315) 470-6644.
Effects of Conversion to Organic Agricultural Practices
on Soil Biota. Werner, M.R., and D.L. Dindal. 1990. American
Journal of Alternative Agriculture 5(1):24-32.
The Field Guide to On-Farm Composting. Dougherty,
M. (ed.). 1999. NRAES-114. Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering
Service. Ithaca, NY. NRAES, 152 Riley Robb Hall, Cooperative Extension,
Ithaca, NY, 14853-5701. www.nraes.org
NRCS Soil Quality Website. The Soil Quality
Institute identifies soil quality research findings and practical
technologies that help conserve and improve soil, and enhance farming,
ranching, forestry, and gardening enterprises. USDA-NRCS Soil Quality
Institute, 2150 Pammel Drive, Ames, Iowa, 50011; 515-294-4592; http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/index.html
The Nature and Properties of Soils. 12th ed.
Brady, N.C., and R.R. Weil. 1999. Macmillan Publishing Co. New York,
NY.
On Farm Composting. Rynk, R. (ed.). 1992. NRAES-54.
Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service. Ithaca,
NY. Contact NRAES, 152 Riley Robb Hall, Cooperative Extension, Ithaca,
NY 14853-5701 or www.nraes.org
The Pedosphere and Its Dynamics: A Systems Approach
to Soil Science. University of Alberta, Canada. An award-winning
website on soil science, www.pedosphere.com
Phytohormones in Soils: Microbial Production and
Function. Frankenberger, Jr., W.T., and M. Arshad. 1995. Marcel
Dekker, Inc. New York, NY.
The Rodale Book of Composting: Easy Methods for
Every Gardener. Martin, D.L., and G. Gershuny (eds.). 1992.
Rodale Press. Emmaus, PA.
Soil Microbiology: An Exploratory Approach.
Coyne, M.S. 1999. Delmar Publishers. Albany, NY.
Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry. Paul, E.A.,
and F.E. Clark. 1989. Academic Press. San Diego, CA.
Cover Crops
University of California’s SAREP (Sustainable
Agriculture Research and Education Program) The UC-SAREP Cover Crops
Resource Page provides access to a host of on-line and inprint educational
materials, including the very informative UC-SAREP Cover Crop Database.
www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/ccrop/
Cover Crops for Clean Water. Hargrove, W.L.
(ed.). 1991. Soil and Water Conservation Society. 7515 NE Ankeny
Road, Ankeny, Iowa, 50021; 515-289-2331; http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/
Green Manuring Principles and Practices. Pieters,
A.J. 1927. John Wiley & Sons. New York, NY. An oldie but goody.
This is an out-of-print book that some readers may enjoy sifting
through. It can be located in college libraries, or borrowed through
Inter-Library Loan.
Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 3rd Edition.
2007. Sustainable Agriculture Network, Handbook Series, No. 3. USDA
Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program. An excellent source
of practical information about cover crops. $19 plus $3.95 s/h to
Sustainable Agriculture Publications, Rm. 210, Hills Bldg., University
of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405-0082; www.sare.org/publications/covercrops.htm
Northeast Cover Crop Handbook. Sarrantonio,
M. 1997. Soil Health Series, Rodale Institute. Kutztown, PA.
The Role of Legumes in Conservation Tillage Systems.
Power, J.F. (ed.). 1987. Soil & Water Conservation Society,
7515 NE Ankeny Road, Ankeny, Iowa, 50021; 515-289-2331; http://www.swcs.org/en/publications/
Dynamics and Chemistry of Organic Matter
Building Soils for Better Crops. 1st Edition.
Magdoff, F. 1992. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. The
last two chapters of the first edition contain information on the
chemistry and dynamics of soil organic matter.
Humic, Fulvic, and Microbial Balance: Organic Soil
Conditioning. Jackson, William R. 1993. Jackson Research Center.
Evergreen, CO.
Humus Chemistry: Genesis, Composition, Reactions.
2nd Edition. Stevenson, F.J. 1994. Wiley & Sons. New York, NY.
“Soil carbon dynamics and cropping practices.”
Lucas, R.E., J.B. Holtman, and J.L. Connor. 1977. pp. 333–351.
In Agriculture and Energy (W. Lockeretz, ed.). Academic Press.
New York, NY.
Soil Organic Matter. Schnitzer, M., and S.U.
Kahn (eds.). 1978. Developments in Soil Science 8. Elsevier Scientific
Publishing Co. Amsterdam, Holland.
“Soil organic matter and its dynamics.”
Jenkinson, D.S. 1988. pp. 564–607. In Russell’s Soil
Conditions and Plant Growth (A. Wild, ed.). John Wiley &
Sons. New York, NY.
Soil Testing Laboratories
Most state land grant universities have soil testing
laboratories. A number of commercial laboratories (such as Brookside
and A&L Laboratories) also perform routine soil analyses. The
ATTRA publication, Alternative Soil Testing Laboratories,
is available on line (www.attra.org/attra-pub/soil-lab.html)
as well as in print.
Publications
Soil Testing: Prospects for Improving Nutrient
Recommendations. Havlin, J.L., et al. (eds). 1994. Soil Science
Society of America. Madison, WI.
Soil Testing: Sampling Correlation, Calibration,
and Interpretation. Brown, J.R., T.E. Bates, and M.L. Vitosh.
1987. Special Publication 21. Soil Science Society of America. Madison,
WI.
 Top
|
