Soil Management for Increased Soil Organic Matter (G2283)

Soil organic matter (SOM) affects many soil properties and processes. For given climate, soil, and management conditions, SOM moves towards a steady state level. Sustained increases of SOM above the steady state level may not be feasible. Substantial SOM increases can be expected when SOM is below steady state but little increase above the steady state can be expected without a change in climate, soil, or
management. Management practices such as erosion control, tillage, crop residue management, rotations, cover crops, and manure application are discussed for increasing SOM and for shifting the steady state upward.