Managing for Soil Health when Raising Potatoes - A Farmer's Perspective
Webinar Details
When:
Jul 8, 2014 2:00 pm US/Eastern
Length: 01:03 (hh:mm)
Advance Registration NOT required.
View now on-demand.
Reviewed for Continued Content Relevance: 05/2017
Presenter(s):
- Brendon Rockey, Rockey Farms, LLC, San Luis Valley, CO
Virtual Event Format:
Group Viewing Available:
Participants will gain knowledge about how soil health can be improved when growing crops that require a lot of soil disturbance during harvest.
Farmer Brendon Rockey will discuss how using a systems approach has improved soil health and biological activity of his soils. Raising 30 varieties of potatoes, his farming system includes the use of green manures, multi-species cover crops, and compost balanced with inorganic materials. Increased diversity from the green manures provides habitat for beneficial organisms, both above and below ground, resulting in reduced pest and disease pressure. The addition of compost has brought back a source of organic nitrogen that had been removed from the system. This combined with the nitrogen gains from the various legumes included in the green manures has led to reduced use of synthetic fertilizer and a more efficient nutrient cycle. Constantly seeking to improve his system, our presenter is experimenting with “companion cropping” using peas and chickling vetch. This webinar will provide participants an opportunity to hear how soil health can be improved and soil functions enhanced even when raising crops that require a lot of soil disturbance for harvest.
This webinar is presented by the USDA NRCS National Soil Health and Sustainability Team located at the East National Technology Support Center.
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