Soil Testing and Amendments for Successful Revegetation

The best form of erosion control is usually vegetation establishment. Soils provide a foundation for vegetation and ultimately dictate establishment outcomes. A comprehensive soil test will identify levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and other properties like texture, pH and organic matter. In most cases, steps will need to be taken to ameliorate soil deficiencies or excesses in order to successfully germinate seedlings and establish sustainable cover. This presentation will cover common soil deficiencies and ways to address those deficiencies utilizing case studies from the southeast.

Full Abstract: One of the most effective Best Management Practices is to establish vegetative cover that is adapted to the site’s geographic region and environmental conditions. Unfortunately, the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil are often neglected when creating these plans. Soil provides a foundation for vegetation and ultimately dictates establishment outcomes. It is important to understand how to properly take soil samples and understand the results. A comprehensive soil test will identify levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and other properties like texture, pH and organic matter (OM). In most cases, steps will need to be taken to ameliorate soil deficiencies or excesses in order to successfully germinate seedlings and establish sustainable cover.
For soil pH issues, the soils may be amended with liming products for soils with an acidic pH and elemental sulfur or acidic products for soils with an alkaline pH. Low organic matter can be addressed with items like compost, manure or biotic soil technology. There are a plethora of fertilizers that can address specific nutrient deficiencies as well. Additionally, there are a variety of less common amendments, like biochar and humic acids, that can help improve soil conditions to ensure rapid vegetation establishment.
Assessing hundreds of soil samples from erosion control projects revealed that only 13% of all samples had extractable nitrogen in the ideal range for turfgrasses, while for pH, only 16% of all samples fell within the recommended range. Many other important soil properties were similarly deficient. Proper soil sampling on erosion control project sites is critical to avoid unnecessary regrading, reseeding, and reapplication or installation of erosion control products. Case studies in the southeast will be used to demonstrate the benefits of soil sampling and proper soil amending to achieve sustainable vegetation in addition to a brief overview of common soil deficiencies and amendment products.