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2.4 Healthy Soil Principles
Some examples of NRCS Conservation
Practices (Code) related to this principle:
(327) Conservation cover
(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
Healthy Soil Principles
Note: You may encounter the four NRCS principles, which combine
maximizing biodiversity with integrating animals into land management.
1.
Keep soil covered/maximize cover
2.
Minimize soil disturbance and external inputs
3.
Maximize biodiversity
4.
Maintain a living root
5.
Integrate animals into land management, including
grazing animals, birds, and beneficial invertebrates
Cover can refer to living plants or organisms, dead plant matter/litter, or other
organic mulches (grass clippings, wood chips, hay, compost, etc.).
Soil cover can provide the following
benefits to soil ecosystems:
•
Cool soils by reducing sun exposure
•
Keep soils moist by reducing evaporation and
increasing infiltration
•
Hold soils in place by reducing water erosion
from high intensity rainfall and wind erosion
•
Keeps soils aerated by shielding from compaction
•
Provide organic material that feeds soil organisms
•
In cropland, reduce weeds and undesirable
invasions by native and non-native plants
Keep soil covered/maximize cover
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