Chapter 3 - Maintaining soil fertility and health for sustainable pastures

Abstract

Soil management is the foundation of agriculture and essential to sustainable forage and beef production. Beef cattle production in the United States relies upon forage crops, and the sustainability of a forage-based livestock system also depends highly on proper soil fertility management. Most pastures in the Southeastern United States are established on marginal areas usually associated with poor soil fertility conditions. Soil fertility management is one of the most important decisions that can affect pasture productivity and sustainability. Soil fertility management and pasture fertilization, however, can also have unintended negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, effective soil fertility programs are required not only to optimize agricultural production, but also to preserve and protect the quality of soil, water, and air resources. Diagnostic technologies and tools to estimate nutrient availability in soil and the likelihood of obtaining crop responses to added nutrients are essential for designing sound pasture fertilization programs. In addition to increasing forage accumulation and nutritive value, soil fertility strategies can also affect soil chemical, physical, and biological properties; therefore pasture fertilization decisions should include both production and conservation goals. In this chapter we will cover the basic principles of soil fertility and nutrient management for warm-season perennial forages. Topics include soil fertility management for harvested versus grazed forage systems, the importance of soil and tissue testing, liming and fertilizing forage crops with chemical versus organic amendments, and soil health. This chapter contains practical information on nutrient management to sustain adequate forage production while protecting the soil and natural resources.