4-H’ers learn to be soil health super sleuths

Missouri 4-H members are digging deep into learning about healthy soils.

Missouri 4-H’ers are joining 4-H’ers across the nation in the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, sponsored by the National 4-H Council and Monsanto. This year’s Ag Innovators Experience, called the Healthy Soils CSI (Carbon Soil Investigation) Challenge, helps 4-H’ers in third through eighth grade learn how modern agricultural practices can improve soil health, says University of Missouri Extension 4-H specialist Shane Potter.

The program supports 4-H’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) efforts.

“Soil doesn’t just mean dirt,” Potter says. It is a mixture of minerals, organic material, living organisms, microbials, air and water. “There is an entire world beneath your feet!”

Potter says the program teaches 4-H’ers the whys and hows of improving soil quality. They learn to conduct a variety of soil tests.

“By asking our 4-H’ers to become soil sleuths and CSIs, we can raise awareness of the importance of soil in a rich ecosystem,” he says.

Manjula Nathan, director of the MU Soil and Plant Testing Laboratory, says this new 4-H project will raise much-needed awareness of the importance of soil health. This will have long-term benefits whether these young people become involved in agriculture, owners of hobby vineyards or simply homeowners with lawns.

“These 4-H members will grow up as responsible stewards of the soil,” Nathan says. “If they can understand the concepts learned in this project, they will practice them and remember them.”

4-H’ers learn through videos and hands-on activities. They learn to evaluate soil quality through visual inspections and physical and chemical tests. Nathan says soil health depends upon the soil’s chemical, physical and biological properties. Much attention goes to the chemical properties of the soil and application of fertilizers and amendments, but the physical and biological properties are equally important to build sustainable soils, she says. Soil health looks into all three aspects of the soil to keep it heathy.

4-H members will learn how conservation tillage practices and cover crops prevent erosion and loss of nutrients, Nathan says. This leads to discussion on ways landowners improve the environment.

Missouri 4-H’s Ag Innovator Teen Teacher Team is available to provide training at special events. Lora Wright of Greene County, Holly Hatfield of Adair County and Abby Schmidt of St. Charles County are the state’s teen leaders. They attended training in Washington, D.C. Other team members and their county of residence: Jo Schalk, Butler; Kameren McGinnis, Adair; Steven Peters, Cape Girardeau; Jake Haines, Audrain; Morgan Crutsinger, Cape Girardeau; Mattie Cobban, Greene; Corbin Bell, Lafayette; and Lauryn Robnett, Audrain.

4-Hers DIG UP FACTS – 4-H members across the country are learning about the importance of good soils through the new 4-H Ag Innovators Experience.

Photo by Bradd Anderson