Organic matter key to soil health

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources has just published a new, and interesting, fact sheet on soil health and the water-retaining capacity of organic matter in the soil.

The fact sheet reports:

• Each pound of organic matter in the soil can hold up to 20 pounds of water in the soil profile.

• Every 1% increase in organic matter holds up to an additional 25,000 gallons of water per acre.

• Every 1% increase in organic matter provides up to 30 lbs of available  nitrogen per acre.

Check out the fact sheet.