Soil health report released in Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) has released the Ontario Topsoil Sampling Project: Soil Health Baseline Study (OTSP), a new report that sets a benchmark for agricultural soil health across the province. The study provides valuable insights into how land management and environmental factors affect topsoil, helping farmers make informed decisions to improve soil health and productivity. 

Launched in 2019, the OTSP involved sampling topsoil at more than 500 farms across southern Ontario, with select sites in the north. Three samples were taken at each site to reflect landscape and soil variability, resulting in more than 1,500 samples collected. The project included land management surveys, soil and landscape descriptions, and laboratory analysis. 

The report highlights results for key soil health indicators - such as soil organic matter and bulk density - and the factors that influence them, including soil texture, cropping systems, and landscape position. One key finding was that fine-textured soils often have higher-than-ideal bulk density, indicating widespread compaction. Compacted soils limit root growth, reduce water infiltration, and can lower yields and profits.