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2.4 Healthy Soil Principles
An example of NRCS Conservation Practices
(Code) related to this principle:
(528) Prescribed grazing
Roots can break up compacted soils and allow
better infiltration. Plants provide carbon to
the soil through their roots, which feeds soil
microbes and helps build soil organic matter.
Root and microbial activities cycle nutrients
and improve soil structure by supporting
aggregate formation, which in turn reduces
wind and water erosion.
Some examples of NRCS Conservation
Practices (Code) related to this principle:
(328) Conservation Crop Rotation
(340) Cover crop
(512) Forage and biomass planting
(528) Prescribed grazing
(329) No till and (345) Reduced till
(484) Mulching
(808) Soil carbon amendment
(334) Controlled traffic
Maintain a living root
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When it comes to soil health on rangelands,
grazing management is essential. It isn’t
possible to achieve any of the goals described
by the other soil health principles, if grazing
isn’t managed (see page 109).
Livestock manure, urine, saliva, hair, and skin
introduce and distribute microbes. Trampling
by grazing animals can incorporate microbes
and organic biomass from the soil surface to
the subsurface, which can in turn accelerate
nutrient and organic matter cycling. The
physical breakdown of organic matter residues
by trampling accelerates organic matter
decomposition.
Integrate animals into land management
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