Building Soils for Better Crops by Fred Magdoff

Sustainable Agriculture Network Handbook Series #4

by Fred Magdoff

Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests with minimal pest problems. How to create that balanced soil ecosystem, however, remains a challenge for even the most experienced growers. Building Soils for Better Crops unlocks the secret of maintaining a diverse ecosystem below ground to foster healthy crops above. Ecological soil management, as detailed by the soil experts who wrote the book, can raise fertility and yields while reducing environmental impacts. The 240-page Building Soils contains detailed information about soil structure and the management practices that affect soils, as well as practical information like how to interpret soil test results. Some of the soil-building strategies Increasing soil organic matter Using appropriate tillage Incorporating animal manures Making and using composts Integrating cover crops into rotations Reducing erosion Methods to avoid and decrease soil compaction

Genres: Gardening, Agriculture

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Fred Magdoff is Emeritus Professor of Soils in the Department of Plant and Soil Science at the University of Vermont. He received his degrees from Oberlin College (BA) and from Cornell University (MS and PhD). Magdoff was Plant and Soil Science Department Chair for 8 years (1985-1993), a member of the National Small Farm Commission (1997-1999, USDA), and is the Coordinator in the 12-state Northeast Region for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.

Magdoff's area of specialty is soil fertility and management. He has worked on problems of sodic and saline soils, acid soils, use of manures and sewage sludges, phosphorus soil tests, nutrient cycling, and he developed the first reliable soil test for nitrogen availability to corn for the humid regions of the U.S. This test, called the Pre-Sidedress Nitrate Test (PSNT) and the Spring or Late Spring Nitrate Test, is now used throughout much of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwestern states as well as in eastern Canada. It has also been adopted for use with a number of vegetable crops.

Magdoff has oriented his outreach activities to explaining how to apply ecological principles to agricultural production. His book, Building Soils for Better Crops (2000, Harold van Es, co-author), is an ecologically-based approach that explains how to work with and enhance the inherent built-in strengths of plant/soil systems. Magdoff is also interested in political and economic issues surrounding agriculture and was senior editor of Hungry for Profit: The Agribusiness Threat to Farmers, Food, and the Environment (2000, Monthly Review Press, NY).

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book that is free for download as PDF.
Very useful and interesting information on - like the title says - busing soil for better crops. Most what is written is about bigger scale (farms /managing land - improving soil humus, aeration and reverting erosion etc) but it's very easy to downscale the advice to your own (herb/veg/flower) garden.

Completely changes my attempts at gardening, very likely with much better results (will see next year, if I don't mess something up ). Meaning crops that do well, look well, have less pests, and much more nutrients.

Very handy tables with info. For example signs of lacking nutrients in soil per nutrient and how to fix it. I now have a much better idea why my citrus tree is semi dead (but on the mend!), and a lot more basic knowledge to apply. My 2x3m piece of garden is going to be great.

I'll start by adding clover as a cover layer ( protects soil from the elements) and nitrogen fixer. Then plant some stuff together to minimize pests, for example Afrikaantjes counter the little worm type thingies that ate my carrots this year and do well next to strawberries too. Don't remove old/dead crops but use everything as mulch. Add manure and if needed fertilizer, rotate crops so nitrogen leech follows nitrogen fixer. Thankfully I have all winter to plan :)

[Joshua Brock · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who didn't grow up farming or on a farm, this book is perfect for me! Just the right mix of history, theory and practical information. It's also wonderful that the authors weave in the "soul" behind why organic and sustainable minded farmers do what we do...makes a big difference in understanding the additional lengths we go to and the why. Well done!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great intro book, but not heavy on detail for the experienced grower.

[Jesselukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not often a book is as technically informative as it is fun to read.

[Cordelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is amazing - starts with the general, big picture of soil health and gradually gets more specific and hands on.