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Soil

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Description:

OSU Extension provides science-based information to help farmers, gardeners and land managers understand and improve soil health. We offer resources on soil testing, fertility management and conservation practices to support productive crops and sustainable land use.

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 | OSU Extension Catalog 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 | OSU Extension Catalog 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 | OSU Extension Catalog 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 | Apr 2024 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

More soil erosion and conservation resources

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 | OSU Extension Catalog 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 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Orange level)

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Latest Content

Updated lime requirement recommendations for Oregon

OSU researchers released higher pH targets as part of improved lime rate recommendations after they took soil tests from across the state.

Amber Moore | Oct 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Composting: An alternative for livestock manure management and disposal of dead animals

Learn how to compost manure, what equipment you'll need and what you can use it for. Examine the differences between composted and uncomposted manure, as well as its drawbacks.

Michael Gamroth, Linda Brewer | Jun 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Biofumigation cover crops: Enhancing soil health and combating pests

Biofumigation is an alternative to chemical fumigation of crops. Cover crops such as mustard, canola and oilseed radish control pests, disease and weeds. Learn how these crops can preserve soil health.

Udayakumar Sekaran, Karthik Karuppanan, Vigneshwaran Raja, Jemila Chellappa, Ruijun (Ray) Qin, Joel Felix | Jun 2025 | OSU Extension Catalog Peer reviewed (Gray level)

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Latest stories

Study guides strategic fertilizer and insecticide decisions for onion growers

This research provides practical, science-based tools for enhancing production efficiency and profitability.

Silvia I. Rondon, Stuart Reitz | Jul 2025 | Impact story

OSU builds home for organic agriculture research and outreach

OSU Extension partnered with Oregon Tilth and the Oregon Organic Coalition to develop the organic program, which is housed in the Center for Resilient Agriculture and Food Systems in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Chris Branam | Apr 10, 2025 | News story

How to acidify soil for rhododendrons, azaleas and other acid-loving plants

Cold, wet seasons — such as winter or early spring — are ideal times to begin the process.

Feb 27, 2025 | News story

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Meet Our Experts

Photo of Nick in a vegetable field
Nick Andrews
Organic Vegetable Extension
Logan Bennett
Small Farms and Master Gardener Program Coordinator

Contact for Farming and Gardening Questions in Douglas County

Linda Brewer
Senior Faculty Research Assistant II, Department of Horticulture

Contact me for questions about soils, soil test interpretation, composting, vermicomposting.

Samikshya Budhathoki
Master Gardener and Small Farms Program Coordinator

Contact me with agriculture and Master Gardener questions in Tillamook County.

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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 ...

A: View answer | View all featured questions

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