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Farmers of the Sugar River hold field day
tonya-gratz-soil-restore
Tonya Gratz stands behind the rainfall simulator explaining the difference management makes in soil runoff and infiltration. The jars hanging show the amount of water that ran off each sample and the ones on the whiteboard show the amount of water that infiltrated from one inch of rain on the soil samples. The more disturbance to the soil, the less water infiltrated.

EVANSVILLE — On May 24, the Farmers of the Sugar River watershed group held a field day near Evansville to show the importance of conserving your soil and the benefits of doing so. 

There were thirty people in attendance ranging from farmers, agronomists, and land conservationists as well as three students and two agriculture education instructors from Evansville High School. 

A huge topic of the day was soil health and what makes soil able to sustain itself. The significant demonstration of the day was the rainfall simulation test performed by Tonya Gratz, a Soil Conservationist with Green County Land and Water Conservation. 

The rainfall simulation test used five different specimens. All the samples for this were taken in a one-mile radius of where the event was held. The samples that were tested were: continuous no-till planted green, vertical tillage, conventional tillage, lawn grass, and ditch grass. The samples were collected by taking a “cookie cut-out” of the ground and placing it into trays with holes on the bottom to allow for water to flow through. Two jars were used to collect water with jar one collecting water that ran off the top of the samples and jar two collecting water that flowed through the sample or infiltrated the soil. The specimens were placed on a raised platform to show attendees what effects a one inch of rain has on different management practices.

The results of the continuous no-till planted green sample were about 1/4 of jar one (runoff) filled with lightly tinted water from runoff and about 1/4 of jar two filled with water from the infiltration of the water. The vertical tillage sample resulted in about 1/3 of jar one (runoff) filled with brown-tinted water from runoff and about 1/4 of jar two filled with water from infiltration. 

The conventional tillage sample shocked the group with the results showing about 1/2 of jar one (runoff) filled with dark brown water from runoff and there was no water in jar two which means zero water infiltration. The yard grass sample showed about 1/6 of jar one filled with water from runoff and very clear water and about 1/3 of jar two filled with water from water infiltration. Ditch grass surprised the group as well by showing only about 1/8 of jar one filled with runoff and crystal-clear water and about 1/4 of jar two filled with water from infiltration. 

These results go to show that having a cover and or even just root systems to help create pore space to allow water to flow where it needs to go and protect the soil from runoff can have lots of benefits not just for soil health but for the farmer as well. 

The conventional tillage and the planted green samples were then flipped out of their trays and set side by side to be examined. Everyone was astonished that the conventional tilled sample was dry as a bone on the bottom which indicates all the one inch rain on the sample did not soak in and just washed off the surface. The planted green sample was moist, which indicates all the water was soaked up and evenly distributed throughout the sample. 

Why is this? Tonya Gratz with the Green County LWCD explained: “Air space created by roots and worm activity is a huge determining factor in whether the soil will soak up water or not. If we keep tilling, we destroy the soil structure, the biology in the soil, and break up roots which reduce infiltration.” 

Now this raises the question, why till? Do we do it because we want to prepare a fine seedbed for delicate seeds to be able to germinate and grow? Because there is no better feeling than getting the tractor already to go to get out into the field? Or is it because that is what Dad and Grandpa did so that is what I am going to do? 

While change can be scary and confusing, especially changing what farmers have always done year after year, we must take that leap of faith and start considering what may be best for the land and future generations of farmers. Even changing what we do little by little will start to show the improvement in your soil health. Do not be afraid of change, embrace it. It can show you a better future for you and your operation.   

Farmers that want to learn how to make changes to their farming operation have other farmers to go to for advice and information. Farmers of the Sugar River is a producer-led watershed group willing to share the “secret sauce recipe” to healthy soil. The group offers incentive payments to offset some of the risk of trying these practices.  

Their website is https://greencountylwcd.com/farmers-of-the-sugar-river/. 

The group collaborates with the Green County LWCD for administrative support and fiscal management.  Contact Tonya Gratz with the Green County LWCD at 608-325-4195 ext. 121 for further information.