The “Getting to Know Your Soil” field day on February 15, 2024, was held at the Texas Tech University (TTU) Rangeland (Erskine) in Lubbock, Texas, and was organized by SHI Soil Health Educators Jessica Kelton and Emily Ball. The event featured Dr. Lindsey Slaughter, TTU Associate Professor and SHI Technical Specialist, and Dr. Veronica Acosta-Martinez, USDA Agricultural Research Service, who shared insights on the basics of soil health and microbiology. Other highlights included a rainfall simulator demo by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and a soil pit visit to show what an undisturbed ‘benchmark’ soil looks like and how it differs from agriculturally managed soils. The event attracted growers and industry representatives from Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. and The Cotton Board. Attendees inquired about effective soil health practices and ways to improve microbial communities under drought conditions, along with discussions about the value of playas in the region. The U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund (USRCF) extends its gratitude to the Texas Tech University Department of Natural Resources Management for hosting our field day at the rangeland!
TTU Associate Professor and SHI Technical Specialist Dr. Lindsey Slaughter explains prisms in the soil which are destroyed through tillage to USRCF field day attendees in Lubbock, Texas. Photo credit: Jessica Kelton, SHI Soil Health Educator.
If you want to contact an SHI Soil Health Educator, Technical Specialist, or Farmer Mentor, please visit our Contacts page.