Understanding what your soil needs is one of the most important steps in improving crop production, pasture performance, garden success and nutrient-use efficiency.
To help landowners make informed soil-management decisions, University of Missouri Extension is offering free educational workshops this fall on “Understanding Your Soil Needs.” The program is based on common soil fertility and management issues identified across Missouri soils and is designed for farmers, ranchers, gardeners and landowners, said Rudra Baral, field specialist in agronomy for MU Extension.
Healthy soils are the foundation of productive crops, pastures, gardens and landscapes. However, many Missouri landowners face challenges such as soil acidity, nutrient deficiencies, low organic matter, poor nutrient-use efficiency and uncertainty in interpreting soil test reports. Understanding these factors can help producers maximize productivity while avoiding unnecessary fertilizer and lime expenses, Baral said.
“The goal of this workshop is to help participants better understand their soils and make science-based management decisions,” he said. “A soil test provides valuable information that can help landowners apply nutrients efficiently, improve soil health and reduce input costs. Without a test, it’s just a guess.”
Participants will learn about:
- Soil texture and its importance in plant growth
- Essential plant nutrients and their roles
- Proper soil-sampling techniques
- Understanding and interpreting soil-test reports
- Soil pH and lime recommendations
- Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium management
- Organic matter and soil health
- Practical fertility-management strategies for improving nutrient-use efficiency
- Discussion and questions with MU Extension agronomy specialist
The workshops will provide practical information applicable to farms, pastures, gardens, food plots, and other managed landscapes.
Workshop dates and locations
Gasconade County
- When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23.
- Location: MU Extension Center in Gasconade County, 1106 W. Highway 28, Owensville.
- Register at https://pears.io/events/mu/11083
Miller County
- When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30.
- Location: MU Extension Center in Miller County, 134 Second St., Tuscumbia.
- Register at https://pears.io/events/mu/11081
Virtual workshop via Zoom
- When: 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7.
- Register at https://pears.io/events/mu/11085
The workshops are free, but advance registration is encouraged.
For more information, contact Baral at [email protected] or 573-369-2394.
(Photo courtesy of University of Missouri Extension.)
