Soil | OSU Extension Service

Nutrient management

OSU Organic Fertilizer & Cover Crop Calculator: Predicting Plant-available Nitrogen

Describes the OSU Organic Fertilizer & Cover Crop Calculator and using it to predict plant-available nitrogen.

Dan M. Sullivan, Nick Andrews, Clare Sullivan, Linda Brewer | Mar 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Camelina Nutrient Management Guide for the Pacific Northwest

Camelina is a drought-tolerant, low-input, oilseed crop grown throughout the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This publication provides soil fertility recommendations—including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and soil pH ...

Amber Moore, Don Wysocki, Thomas G. Chastain, Tracy Wilson, Alyssa DuVal | Feb 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Nutrient Management for Pastures: Western Oregon and Western Washington

Describes nutrient management practices for pastures to produce forage as a main feed source for western Oregon and Washington livestock.

Amber Moore, Gene Pirelli, Shelby Filley, Steve Fransen, Dan M. Sullivan, Melissa Fery, Tom Thomson | Jan 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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Soil organic matter as a soil health indicator

Testing for soil organic matter helps you monitor soil health over time. Good soil management practices can improve soil organic matter in three to five years. Learn about sampling, testing and how to interpret results for your soil.

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Soil erosion and conservation

Selecting successful cover crops for your hop yard

This fact sheet is designed to help guide commercial hop growers in selecting cover crops. The guide discusses pros and cons for four different cover crop strategies: annual fall-planted, annual spring-planted, annual re-seeding and...

Betsy Verhoeven | Sep 2019 | Article

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Soil sampling and testing

Soil Nitrate Testing for Willamette Valley Vegetable Production

A soil nitrate test measures the concentration of nitrate in the soil at a specific moment in time, including nitrate originating from organic inputs, fertilizer, and soil organic matter. This publication describes ...

Dan M. Sullivan, Nick Andrews, Aaron Heinrich, Ed Peachey, Linda Brewer | Aug 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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Soil health

Nutrient and Soil Health Management for Sweet Corn (Western Oregon)

This guide integrates recommendations for nutrient management with cover cropping practices that promote soil health. Recommendations for nutrient rate, source, timing and placement for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, ...

Dan M. Sullivan, Ed Peachey, Aaron Heinrich, Linda Brewer | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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Latest Content

Nutrient management of raspberries and blackberries in Oregon and Washington

Learn what kinds of nutrients raspberries and blackberries need in Oregon and Washington and how to provide them.

Amanda Davis, Scott Lukas, Bernadine Strik, Amber Moore, Lisa Wasko DeVetter, David Bryla, Emily Dixon | Sep 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Soil testing resources

Learn what you need to know to test your farm or garden soil.

Jun 2024 | Collection

Soil Testing Lab Selection and Recommended Analytical Methods for Oregon

Not all soil tests are the same. Here's how to choose a soil testing lab in Oregon.

Gordon B. Jones, Amber Moore, Eliza Smith | May 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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Latest stories

Engineering students help Extension faculty improve cover crop technology

Four OSU engineering students teamed up with Nick Andrews, the Oregon State Extension organic vegetable specialist, to design and build more a effective interseeding tractor.

Henry Carnell | Aug 20, 2024 | News story

OSU Extension soil fertility study saves grower costs of applying gypsum to hemp crop

The study showed that the crop performed equally well with and without gypsum and nutritional samples of the hemp flowers did not indicate any problems by discontinuing applications.

Gordon B. Jones | Mar 2023 | Impact story

Organic farmers save money on fertilizer with OSU Extension tool

The OSU Organic Fertilizer and Cover Crop Calculator helps farmers estimate nitrogen release from cover crops and the cost of managing cover crops.

Dan M. Sullivan, Nick Andrews | Mar 2022 | Impact story

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Soils 101

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Testing strips for soil acidity?

Q: I'm working on getting my blueberry patch acidified properly, and I've noticed that the pH keeps drifting upwards (I suspect the buffered municipal water I irrigate with is the cause). At any rate, I'm looking for ...

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