Ontario research shows soil care boosts crop rain use efficiency
The OMAFA Fieldcropnews.com team recently held demonstrations regarding how soil management can greatly affect the amount of rainfall absorbed into the soil for crop use. This is especially important for corn, soybean, and wheat growers facing dry spells or intense summer storms.
In early July at the University of Guelph’s Ridgetown campus, four Brookston clay loam soils with different management histories were tested for water infiltration. The soils ranged from undisturbed fencerow to continuous soybeans under fall plow tillage. The results revealed major differences in how quickly two inches of water could soak in. The fencerow absorbed water in seconds, while continuous soybeans under intensive tillage took over 20 minutes for the second inch, increasing risks of ponding and erosion.
Healthy soils with small grains, perennials, and reduced tillage, such as corn–soy–wheat rotations with red clover, showed strong infiltration rates. This means crops can make better use of heavy rainfall, avoiding losses from runoff.
Soil structure played a key role. Well-structured soils with crumb-like aggregates had better pore space, allowing water and air to move freely and roots to grow deeper. In contrast, dense, blocky soils restricted infiltration and root growth. Continuous soybeans with heavy tillage had the poorest structure.
Current Ontario field conditions vary. In some corn fields, early growth is strong, but patchy areas show drought stress. Soybeans are mostly at vegetative to early flowering stages, with some fields showing weed pressure.
Wheat harvest is nearly complete, with quality affected in wetter areas.
Regular soil health assessment, such as OMAFA’s Soil Health Assessment and Plan (SHAP), can help farmers benchmark and improve conditions. Management practices like adding cover crops, perennials, and reducing tillage can enhance infiltration and resilience.
Photo Credit: pexels-muffin