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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365463
Research Project: Optimizing Water Use Efficiency for Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems in Semi-Arid Regions

Location: Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research

Title: Ogallala water cap resource guide series-soil health

Author
item Acosta-Martinez, Veronica
item BHANDARI, KRISHNA - Texas Tech University
item GHIMIRE, RAJAN - New Mexico State University
item SCHIPANSKI, MEAGAN - Colorado State University
item NUNEZ, AGUSTIN - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Scientific and Technical Review
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2019
Publication Date: 7/10/2019
Citation: Acosta Martinez, V., Bhandari, K., Ghimire, R., Schipanski, M., Nunez, A. 2019. Ogallala water cap resource guide series-soil health. Scientific and Technical Review. 2:1-4.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This is a factsheet on soil health that will summarize the importance of soil health for sustaining essential functions and the different methods available to evaluate soil health. It will also explain the challenges that producers face within the Ogallala aquifer region to sustain crop productivity, and how careful selection of crops and crop rotations, tillage, and other management practices can improve both farm profitability and soil health for dryland, limited irrigation, and fully irrigated production systems for future generations. This fact sheet will be part of the Ogallala Water CAP Resource Guide Series of the Ogallala Water Coordinated Agriculture Project. This is a multi-disciplinary collaborative effort funded by USDA-NIFA, is focused on developing and sharing practical, science-supported information relevant to best management practices for optimizing water use across the Ogallala region. Our interdisciplinary team is engaged in research, outreach and cooperative partnerships with a diverse set of stakeholders, working to support current and future generations of producers in the region. The fact sheet concludes/explains how best management practices for soil health will depend on each region’s climate and soil conditions. Nonetheless, maintaining or improving soil health during a transition to dryland production will play an important role for agricultural sustainability and resiliency in the Ogallala region.