Soil Settling

Technical articles - Soil and fertilization

Soil and fertilization Organic matter self-sufficiency in vegetable farming Soil erosion Soil regeneration NBSOIL

Soil crusting is the tendency of a soil to disintegrate and form a surface crust (soil crust) under the mechanical action of raindrops. It indicates soil degradation.

Is it problematic?

It limits the movement of water and air in the soil, which hinders the proper development of plants and negatively impacts soil biological life. The soil crust is therefore problematic during the germination and emergence of crops. It also contributes to soil erosion because without water infiltration, water runs off carrying soil away.

How to prevent it?

Protect the soil surface from the mechanical effect of rain either by mulching, no-till, or by establishing a cover crop or green manure. The latter technique also has an agronomic advantage because the cover crop improves soil structure during growth and increases its resistance to erosion thanks to rooting. It also has an economic advantage because it limits nitrogen leaching during winter and improves the yields of the following crop.

Avoid soil tillage that leaves the soil bare, as well as compaction caused by repeated traffic.

Return crop residues to the soil, establish a green manure, leave the plot fallow, or apply compost or RAMIAL CHIPPED WOOD (ramial chipped wood) to rebuild a sufficient stock of organic matter in the soil to restore its fertility, which will influence the structural stability of the plot and thus its resistance to crusting.

Mechanically break the soil crust using a hoe or a rotary hoe.

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