Why is smoking soil a sign of success
by Johanna Cohen
Learn why earthworms are a key sign of soil heath. See how the Carbon by Indigo program can help increase your earthworm count.
Dive into a presentation by Frank Gibbs, a former NRCS employee, and you will experience an intense and insightful focus on the importance of earthworms aka night crawlers in soil. Gibbs explored a test he developed to look at soil health, blowing smoke through wormholes in order to show the ability of air and water to move through soil. This test indicates the extent of permeability of soil and how management impacts that trait.
When smoke can be blown through the soil profile and out of wormholes it shows the soil’s porosity; indicating a number of important traits, from infiltration to water holding capacity. As Gibbs explained, you don’t want saturated soil (too much water) or wilting soil (too much air), but are looking for a combination that allows for earthworms to thrive. In order to increase your earthworm count, you need a conservation system including practices like no-till or cover crops. If you’re just starting out with a carbon farming transition, Gibbs laid out key soil health principles.
Soil Health Principles
- Limit soil disturbance
- Increase soil microbial diversity
- Grow living roots year round
- Keep soil cover
- Reduce compaction
Gibbs focused on decreasing reliance on weather and putting yourself in the driver’s seat. You’ll never be able to control weather, but you can decrease the impact weather has on your fields. If it rains a lot or doesn’t rain enough, you want water in the ground where crops can use it, and need the roots and storage available to keep water.
Ready to start creating resilient soil through reduced tillage and cover crops? The Carbon by Indigo program is here to help.
By Johanna Cohen - Product Marketer for Sustainability Products at Indigo
This article may include information from third-party sources or other information that Indigo may not independently verify. Carbon quantification methods, processes and understandings are in their nascency and subject to change and continuous development. The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and may be based on generally applicable assumptions that may not be applicable to any individual operation. Actual results may differ among growers and farms based on a large number of variables. Each operation should independently consider the financial implications and all potential risks and benefits of the use of any agronomic practice. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Neither Indigo nor its representatives or affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific outcomes (agronomic, financial or otherwise) in connection with any recommendations, calculations or predictions. Terms, conditions, limitations and eligibility requirements apply. See program agreement for additional details regarding Carbon by Indigo.
Farmers like you are getting paid to implement practices that improve soil health. With skyrocketing input costs, see how covers help.
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Neither Indigo nor any of its affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific results or outcomes, including, without limitation, with respect to soil health outcomes or any minimum amount of greenhouse gasses sequestered or number of carbon credits generated. Participation in Carbon by Indigo is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the program contained in the applicable enrollment agreement. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Not available in all areas.
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