Soil Quality in Vegetable and Small Fruit Production

Bulletin 898

Managing Soil Quality

Causes for Decline in Soil Quality in Vegetable and Small Fruit Production

Soil quality is often degraded through a combination of factors that cause a decline in soil organic matter (SOM) and loss of soil structure. The small, shallow root systems of certain crops, in combination with short rotations, intensive tillage, and frequent cultivation and field traffic, create many opportunities to lessen organic matter and destroy soil structure (i.e., increase compaction). Soil degradation is hastened by using crops or practices that return little organic matter to the soil or by driving on or working the soil when it is wet. Many of these practices seem unavoidable (e.g., how to grow and harvest without frequent cultivation and field traffic?).

At first glance then, one may ask what can be done to improve or maintain soil quality. An important step in the process is to recognize that no single management practice or group of practices will ensure that soil quality remains high in all situations, since soils and landscapes are not uniform, and cropping system requirements are highly variable. The best practices for improving and maintaining soil quality will be site- and farming system-specific. However, several generalizations can be made:

• Organic matter plays a key role in nearly all physical, chemical, and biological soil properties.
• Extensive tillage and cultivation (especially of wet soils) tend to reduce SOM, degrade soil structure, and increase erosion.
• Soil quality must be managed with the same energy and focus as other production issues, like pests and diseases. After all, a farmer's know-how and soil are his or her only true resources.