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Soil Problem-solving Guide

The table below lists common soil problems. Each problem includes indicators to test for the problem, and practices that help or hinder. Use the links in the table to go to the specific information about practices and indicators.

Problem/Indicators	Possible Cause of Problem	To Improve Soil Quality
Problem:Compaction Indicators: Bulk density Penetration resistance Porosity Root growth patterns	Working wet soil Excess traffic Heavy machinery Repeated tillage at same depth Excess animal traffic Poor aggregation Low organic matter	Avoid working wet soil Reduce traffic/tillage operations Use controlled traffic patterns Avoid using heavy machinery Subsoil or rip when soil is not excessively wet or dry Alter tillage depth Add organic residues Diversify cropping system Use conservation tillage Add cover crops Use crop rotations Add animal manures Use non-compacting tillage (e.g., chisel vs moldboard)
Problem: Crop disease Indicators: Plant health Crop vigor Yield	Compacted layers Saturated soil Soil pathogen problems Nutrient deficiencies or imbalance Low organic matter Monoculture Low biological diversity	Soil test - correct nutrient and pH levels Check for pathogens/pests Reduce compaction following harvest Improve drainage Increase organic residue Use animal manure Add cover crops Use crop rotation Diversify cropping system
Problem: Crusting Indicators: Aggregate stability Slake test Observations	Excess sodium Low organic matter Low residues	Increase organic residues Reduce tillage depth Use animal manure Add cover crops For sodium problem - apply gypsum and flush with irrigation water
Problem: Drainage Indicators: Infiltration rate Hydraulic conductivity	Tillage pan High water table Poor soil structure	Subsoil to break up tillage pan Add drainage system
Problem: Soil life Indicators: Earthworms Soil respiration Microbial biomass Pitfall trapping	Low organic matter Low residues Excess pesticides or fertilizers Excess tillage Poor aeration	Low organic matter Low residues Excess pesticides or fertilizers Excess tillage Poor aeration Increase organic residues Use conservation tillage Use crop rotations Add cover crops
Problem: Salinity Indicators: Electrical conductivity Observe white crust	Saline seeps Saline irrigation water/well Shallow water table Poor drainage Excess evaporation	Leach excess salts Plant deep rooted crops Grow salt tolerant crops Increase vegetative cover Manage irrigation water Improve drainage
Problem: Erosion Indicators: Observe rills, gullies Topsoil depth Aggregate stability	Lack of cover and residue Low organic matter Poor aggregation Tillage pan or compacted layer Tillage practices that move soil down slope Excessive tillage Intensive crop rotation	Diversify crop rotations Reduce tillage Use animal manure Use cover crops Increase surface residue or roughness Shorten slope length Plant strip crops Use wind breaks
Problem: Infiltration Indicators: Infiltration rate Aggregate stability Soil structure	Lack of cover and residue Low organic matter Poor aggregation Tillage pan or compacted layer Tillage practices that move soil down slope Excessive tillage Intensive crop rotation	Add organic residue Add animal manure Use cover crops Diversify crop rotation For sodium problem, apply gypsum and flush with irrigation water Subsoil or rip when soil is not excessively wet or dry Use tillage that preserves soil structure
Problem:Organic matter/ residue Indicators: Organic carbon Percent residues	Excess tillage Residue burned off Low residue crops Too much fallow Insufficient additions of crop residue	Diversify or increase crop rotations Add animal manure Use cover crops Use high residue crops Reduce tillage
Problem: Soil pH Indicators: Soil solution pH	Use of ammonium fertilizers No liming	Soil test - correct pH levels Add lime for low pH Improve drainage