EMAU FARMS- SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

By Peter Emau A farmer dedicated to sustainable agriculture continues to seek an understanding of how nature works, especially, the effects of chemicals on soil.  This is because, f rom soil we get our food.  A variety of salt-based chemicals are often used on roads or drive-ways to de-icing in winter in many areas with snow. Some of the salt, however, may get washed into nearby agricultural land.  Therefore, here is another experiment: EF2019B Comparing the effects of magnesium/calcium-based salt with Urea-based salt (pet safe) on soil sedimentation.  Jar #0 has nothing added (negative control);  Jar #1 has a quarter teaspoon of rock salt (Sodium Chloride);  J ar #2 has half teaspoon of rock salt:  Jars # 3 and 4 have a quarter and half teaspoon, respectively, of urea-based salt.  All jars have soil and water added so that soil is 15% volume in 500 mL jar.  Then mix vigorously to suspend the soil and...

 by Peter Emau For a farmer dedicated to sustainable agriculture, one question to ask is what effects the massive amounts of salt (applied on  the roads and driveways to melt snow ice in Winter) has on natural soil structure or texture.  As the snow melts, salt is carried away into nearby land where it may affect soil structure.  Soil texture affects growth of plant roots and growth soil microbes- both of which are the basis or healthy gardening and pasture for animals. Therefore, I tested the effects using simple soil sedimentation test.  Basically, get soil from up to 20 cm depth in the pasture, add it to jars up to a third of the jar, then add different amounts of salt.  Jar #2 has no salt.  Jar #4 has a quarter teaspoon of salt.  Jar #6 has half teaspoon of salt. Add water to all jars bring total volume to 500 milliters and shake to create a soil suspension so that soil is approximately 25%(v/v). Assuming 1 teaspoon is 5....