| southernokie - 3/18/2013 12:29 How does the NT soil nutrient status differ where livestock impact and diverse cover crops are used? The 'heathiest' soil here? In the corral where mob grazing 1-2X per yr plus rotational grazing have occurred since mid 70s. No seed, no fert, no lime, no pesticide...great winter pasture right now...rivlaling wheat and rye pasture! The problem in NT...IMO...removal of livestock and crop divsersity from the 'business plan'. Our soils can't mineralize enough fast enough without a change in business plan. On perennial vegetation, livestock are great. But on dryland no-till under annual cropping south of I-80, livestock are a disaster. Cannot maintain enough residue cover. No-till with no thatch is the worst possible system. I've written about this in a couple other threads and forums, so look for those if you want more commentary and examples by me. |
nutrient availability under long-term no-till, cover crops
