Many
thanks to Dr. Ray Weil, University of Maryland (right),
and Joel Gruver (in soil pit) for all the soil quality research they've done
on my farm.
1999
SARE Project "Economic and Environmental Impact
of No-Till Processing
Tomatoes vs. Conventional Processing Tomatoes"
Soil Quality Research
at Cedar Meadow Farm This research was done in cooperation
with University of MD, 1997
%
aggregate stability
Fields not tilled for over 10 years
62.3%
Fields tilled in the last 10 years
18.1%
Carbohydrates
(mg/kg soil)
Fields not tilled for over 10 years
48.4mg
Fields tilled in the last 10 years
37.3mg
Soil
Bulk Density (g/cm3)
field
4
25
23
35
8
36
Bulk Density
1.35
1.28
1.25
1.18
1.19
1.06
Yrs. not tilled
2
3
10
15
30
30
Total
Microbial Biomass mg/kg soil
Fields not tilled for over 10 years
304mg
Fields tilled in the last 10 years
161mg
%
Aggregate Stability
field
4
25
23
35
8
36
Aggregate Stability
19.4
24.5
24.0
68.2
57.6
87.3
Yrs. not tilled
2
3
10
15
30
30
Microwave
Extractable Carbon mg/g soil
field
4
25
23
35
8
36
Extractable
.123
.136
.145
.154
.240
.247
Yrs. not tilled
2
3
10
15
30
30
Microbial
Biomass Carbon mg/g soil
field
4
25
23
35
8
36
Microbial Biomass C
.064
.076
.098
.093
.146
.160
Yrs. not tilled
2
3
10
15
30
30
Microwave
Extractable Sugars
field
4
25
23
35
8
36
Extractable Sugars
.059
.060
.064
.072
.105
.115
Yrs. not tilled
2
3
10
15
30
30
Results
of 114 soil samples taken in PA and MD
Average
CMF
Bulk Density cm3
1.26
1.18
Aggregate Stability %
36.7
64.0
Extractable C mg/g
.201
.252
Extractable Sugar mg/g
.103
.129
Microbial Biomass mg/g
.124
.168
Earthworm
Castings Soil Test - Field # 5 (% base sat.)
OM
P
K
Mg
Ca
ph
C.E.C.
K
Mg
Ca
S
Zn
Mn
Fe
soil
4.3
230
105
192
1560
6.7
10.1
4.7
15.8
77.0
12
11.6
88
31
castings
7.4
230
211
253
1620
6.5
11.6
4.7
18.2
69.8
33
18.7
193
28
Effects
of Cover Crops on Soil Quality and
Crop
Yeild in a Lower Quality Soil
vs. a High Quality Soil.
University of Maryland,
Dr. Ray Weil
These 2 fields are side by side and are same soil type.
The High quality field has not been tilled for over 30 years and
has 5.8% organic matter. The low quality field has not been tilled
for 8 years and has 3.8% organic matter. We intend to carry this
research out over several years to see the long term effects of cover
crops. 1999 was an extremly dry year and yields were low, but it
proved the positive effects of long-term no-till.
(4 replications, each approx. 15'x 100') hairy vetch/rye
cover - 110.4 bu/A no cover - 107.5 bu/A difference - 2.9 bu/A average
yeild in plot. 108.95 Low Quality Soil Field (3 reps) hairy vetch/rye
cover - 81.2 bu/A no cover - 72.1 bu/A difference - 9.1 bu/A average
yeild in plot - 76.65 bu/A difference between high and low quality
fields - 32.3 bu/A
Steve & Cheri
Groff • Cedar
Meadow Farm
679 Hilldale Road • Holtwood,
PA 17532
Phone: (717) 284-5152 • Fax:
(717) 284-5967 • Email: steve@cedarmeadowfarm.com