This document discusses the importance of soil health and the soil food web for plant and soil health. It provides information on the different microorganisms found in soil and their roles in nutrient cycling, holding soil carbon, and other functions. The document advocates for managed grazing practices like adaptive multi-paddock grazing to improve soil health by increasing organic matter and microbial diversity. It presents data showing higher soil carbon and improved pasture productivity on farms using adaptive grazing compared to conventional continuous grazing.

1. Dirt Rich or Dirt Poor?
Allen R Williams, Ph.D.
Grass Fed Insights, LLC
1

2. 2

4. Start With the
Foundation:
Healthy Soil

5. The Soil is Alive!!
5

6. 6

7. 90% of soil function is mediated by microbes.
Microbes depend on plants.
So, how we manage plants is critical.
7

8. Plant growth & health highly correlated with how
much life & what kind of life is in the soil!
– Microbes Matter!!!
– Microbial community structure crucial.
– Highly Important
Fungi to Bacteria ratio
Predator to Prey ratio
8

9. 9
Optimum Soil Health
Type of Organism number/acre lbs/acre
Bacteria 800,000,000,000,000,000,000 2,600
Actinobacteria 20,000,000,000,000,000 1,300
Fungi 200,000,000,000,000 2,600
Algae 4,000,000,000 90
Protozoa 2,000,000,000,000 90
Nematodes 80,000,000 45
Earthworms 40,000 445
Insects /arthropods 8,160,000 830
Soil Food Web

10. Role of Microbes
Produce Glomalin – “Soil Glue”.
– Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)
Glomalin creates soil aggregates vital to nutrient exchange and
water movement.
Reduces ponding and runoff.
Without underground “highways” created by glomalin, crops
require more fertilizer for same yields.
Slows down rate of water entering aggregate.
Soil aggregates are soil carbon vault.
Stores carbon where slow-acting microbes live.
10

11. Additional Roles
Fungal Hyphae:
– Help create fine roots
More efficient at grabbing nutrients.
Require less carbon as fuel (lower mpg).
Unlock chemical bonds to release P, S, N.
Fungi take up P 6 X’s faster than root hairs.
–Connect roots from different plants.
Transfer N and other nutrients from legume nodule to non-
legume root.
11

12. 10,000 – 50,000 microbe species in one
gram of soil.
Nutrient cycling services worth up to $20
Trillion annually!
World’s most valuable ecosystem!
“Soil livestock” more numerous & diverse
than tropical rain forest species.
12

13. Bacteria
13
Pseudomonas
Mycobacterium
Bacillus subtillis
Actinomycetes

14. 14
Mycorrhizal Fungi

15. Interconnecting Mycorrhizal Mat

16. Protozoa
Regulate bacterial populations
Mineralize nutrients
Release NH4+ (ammonium)
Nutrient cycling
16

17. Nematodes
Four Types of Free-living
nematodes:
– Bacterial Feeders
– Fungal Feeders
– Predatory nematodes
– Omnivores
Beneficial nematodes help
control disease & cycle
nutrients.
Stimulate prey populations.
Disperse microbes.
Food source – higher
predators.
Disease suppression &
Development.
17

18. Nature’s recyclers and Purifiers

19. Soil Health Indicator
Species
19

20. Insects/Arthropods
20
Mites

21. 21

22. Earthworms
22

23. 23
Dung Beetles

24. I Tunnelers
II Dwellers
III Rollers or
Tumblers
Dung Beetles

25. 25

27. 27
Pollinator
Insects

28. Soil Food Web
(Soil Livestock)
Photos: Soil Biology Primer

29. Enlarged Soil
Aggregates Glomalin and hyphae
Dr. Kris Nichols, Microbiologist, ARS, Mandan, ND

30. The Aggregate: Lungs of the
soil

31. Pore Spaces Are Essential For Biology And
Water Infiltration

32. Soil Testing
Soil Fertility or Chemistry
– SOM, pH, CEC
– Macro- and Micro-Nutrients
– Base Saturations/Ratios
Soil Biology – PLFA Analysis
– TLMB, Group Diversity Index
– Gram+ and Gram- Bacteria
– Fungi – Saprophytic & Mycorrhizal
– Predators – Protozoa & Nematodes
32

33. New Testing Available
Quorum Labs, Eldorado, IL
– Soil Fertility
Available and Bound Elements
OM, pH, CEC, Majors & Minors, Base Saturations
CO2
– Soil Biology
Active & Inactive fractions – Non-sporulated & sporulated
Microbial species specification
– Animal DNA
– Plant Tissue analysis
– Pathology
– Water Quality
– Affluent Testing
33

34. In Field Measurements
Compaction – Penetrometer
Temperature – Thermometer
Water Infiltration – Double Ring Infiltrometer
Soil NO3
Aggregation
Plant Brix
Shovel
34

35. 35
Measuring Water Infiltration Rates

36. Using A Penetrometer
36

37. Can we control runoff with Organic
Matter (OM)?
2% OM will hold 32,000 gallons of water
or 21% of a Moderate to Heavy rainfall.
5% OM will hold 80,000 gallons of water
or 53% of a Moderate to Heavy rainfall.
8% OM will hold 128,000 gallons of water
or 85% of a Moderate to Heavy rainfall.

38. 38

39. Diminished Water Cycle

40. Soil Temperatures

41. 41
(oF)
Indicator: Soil Temperature
1. At 70 oF, 100% of Soil moisture is used for growth.
2. At 100 oF, 85% of Soil moisture is lost and 15% is used for growth.
3. At 115 oF, microbes begin to breakdown, and
4. At 140 oF they die.
Temperature (oF)
10
8
6
4
2
Temperature at 2
Inches
10 rated Best,
0 rated Worst
0
130+ 115-130
Poor Fair
(oF)
100-115
Good
90-100
Very
Good
< 90
Excellent

42. FLIR – Air Temp 96o
42
133
87

43. AMP or AHSD Grazing
Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing
Adaptive High Stock Density Grazing
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44. 44
Simulate Nature

45. Mimic Nature: Biomimcry/Ecomimcry

46. Nurtures Ecological Memory

47. Planned Multi-Paddock Grazing
47
Ranch road

48. Texas
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49. 49
1. 39% area used
2. 41% GPS points on 9% area
3. SR: 21 ac/cow
4. Effective SR: 9 ac/cow
GPS Collared Cows – Grazing Study
Continuous Grazing
West Texas Ranch
Courtesy: R. Teague, TAMU

50. 50
Planned Multi-Paddock Grazing
Under Planned Multi-Paddock Grazing Practices Carrying Capacity
Increased from 21 ac/cow to 9 ac/cow.
Courtesy: R. Teague, TAMU

51. Mississippi Farm
Case Study
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52. 52
Condition at Purchase

53. Starting Point
53

54. Soil OM – 1.3% to 1.6%
Water Infiltration Rates – < ½ in/hr
Plant Brix – 2%
Major forage species – 3-4
Stocking Rate – 1 AU/6 acres
54

55. Implemented Strategy
Bale Grazing 1st winter.
High Stock Density/Short Duration
Grazing.
Long rest periods.
Strategic use of microbial quorum sensing.
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56. 56
Year 1 Grazing Season

57. 57
Grazing Weeds

58. 58
Year 2 Grazing Season

59. 59
Year 3 Grazing Season

60. 60
Year 4 Grazing Season

61. Progress
Soil OM – 5.2% to 5.6%
Forage species – 43, including natives.
Plant Brix – Avg 15 – 22%
Water infiltration – 10+ in/hr
Stocking Rate – 1 AU/1.5 acres.
FREE ACRES!!!
Significant increase in earthworms, soil level
insects, pollinators, and wildlife.
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62. Diversity Is Key

63. 63
Monoculture
Diversity/Complexity

64. Where Do Majority
of Soil Microbes
Live & Function?
64

65. 65
Microbe “Home” – Soil microbes live and
function in root zone.

66. Approximately 2/3 Of Your OM Increase
Will Come From Roots!

67. Desired Mix
Grasses
Legumes
Forbs
67

68. 68
Perennial Pastures
Grasses
Legumes
Forbs

69. 69
Keeping Cattle Out Of Ponds

70. Stockpiled Prairie
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71. 71
Moving Cows to Fresh Stockpile

72. 72
Allen’s Fencing Rig

73. Pompey’s Rest Farm
Soil Destroyer to Soil Builder
Dec. 2016 National GLCI Conference
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74. 74
Initial Pasture Condition

75. 75
After One Year of Adaptive Grazing

76. 76
Abundant Grass….

77. Chad Bitler, M.S.
Agriculture Resource Coordinator (ARC)
Email – cbitler@green-acres.org
Direct – (513) 898-3159
Green Acres Research Farm: Cincinnati, Ohio

79. Chad Bitler, M.S.
Agriculture Resource Coordinator (ARC)
Email – cbitler@green-acres.org
Direct – (513) 898-3159
Green Acres Research Farm: Cincinnati, Ohio

80. Chad Bitler, M.S.
Agriculture Resource Coordinator (ARC)
Email – cbitler@green-acres.org
Direct – (513) 898-3159
Green Acres Research Farm: Cincinnati, Ohio
Over 56,000 lbs. of
biomass measured. No
fertilizer. Steers
gained ~ 3.0 lbs/day.
Organic matter
increased 0.20 % in 90
days.

81. Las Damas Ranch
81

82. 82
Neighbor’s Pasture
Las Damas Ranch

83. 83
Las Damas Ranch

84. Background
Typical 11 inch rainfall region.
– Last 4 years – 10”, 9”, 8”, 5” inches.
5 years ago – monoculture of tobosagrass
– Now = side-oats grama, blue grama, green
spangletop, …..
Run 1 cow/calf per 40 acres.
FREE ACRES!!!
Neighbor ranch runs 1 cow/calf per 200 acres.
84

85. Luis Robles Ranch – Chihuahua,
Mexico
85

86. 86

87. Caterras Cattle Co. – Chihuahua,
Mexico
87

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90. 90

91. 91

92. 92

93. Grazing management simplified
iPhone + iPad work in the field
without cell reception
Sync grazing records and GPS
photos back to your computer

94. Does Grazing Strategy &
Methodology Matter?
94

95. Soil Carbon Data
Three farms sampled in Mississippi:
– Fall 2014
– Farm Descriptions:
AHSD Grazing for 5 years
High Level Conventional Grazing Management
– CG – Slow Rotation - 50+ years
Low Level Conventional grazing management
– CG – Continuous - 30+ years
All same soil types
95

96. Soil Carbon Data
Soil pits dug in random locations at each farm.
Same topography.
Each pit 3 feet deep and 3 feet square.
Collected soil samples within every 6 inch
section.
Noted root growth and structure.
Noted soil life, texture, aggregation.
96

97. Soil Carbon Data – Total Soil
Carbon
Horizon AHSD CG -
Rotation
CG – Cont.
1 4.67 1.64 1.36
2 4.00 1.88 1.37
3 2.95 1.03 0.40
4 2.04 1.02 0.54
5 1.71 0.38 0.40
6 1.42 0.41 0.34
97

98. Soil Carbon Data – Soil
Organic Matter
Horizon AHSD CG -
Rotation
CG – Cont.
1 4.26 3.28 2.72
2 3.22 3.76 2.74
3 3.10 2.06 0.80
4 2.98 2.04 1.08
5 2.80 0.76 0.80
6 1.98 0.82 0.68
98

99. Soil Carbon Data – Carbon
Assessment Per Acre
Farm
Descrip
Carbon
(kg/sq meter
Carbon
(Ton/ac)
Carbon (Ton
CO2 Equiv)
AHSD 12.69 51.41 188.13
CG –
Rotation
7.09 28.71 105.07
CG – Cont. 5.47 22.16 81.09
99

100. Principle of
Disruption
100

101. 101

102. 102

103. Flexibility is Key
Alter stocking densities
Do not move through rotations in same pattern
Alter grazing heights
Alter rest periods
Alter species order
103

104. There Are Good Ideas and
Bad Ideas
104

105. 105
Today’s Bad Idea

106. Seven Sons
Per Acre Net – Direct Costs
Cattle $663
Pastured Pigs $701
Free Range Eggs $3721
$5085
Land/Labor Costs $ 881
Net per Acre $4204
106

107. Moving the “Mob”

109. Batt Latch

110. 110
Livestock Impact

111. 111
Grass Fed Dairy

112. BRIX
Higher Brix – Result of improving SOM
and soil microbial populations.
112

113. BRIX
Dissolved plant solids include sugars
(such a sucrose and fructans), minerals,
amino acids, proteins, lipids and pectins.
Higher Brix – Result of improving SOM
and soil microbial populations.
113

114. 114
Simple To Measure
Can use either
Optical or
Digital
Refractometer.
Digital
Optical

115. 115
Measuring Brix – Sample Prep

116. 116
Measuring Brix - Refractometer

117. 117
Forage Poor Avg Good Excellent
Alfalfa 4 8 16 22
Ryegrass 6 10 14 18
Sorghum 6 10 22 30
Fescue 2 4 7 12
Bermuda 2 4 6 8
Brix Index of Common Forages

118. 118
Why High Brix in Forages?
Research shows
– increase animal gains
– Increase Milk/components
High Brix Forages
are:
– More drought resistant
– Freeze tolerant,
– More resistant to plant
disease and pests
– References:
– (Moorby, 2001).
– (Moller, 1996).
– (Downing & Gamroth, 2007; Miller,
et al, 1999).
– (Allison, 2007).
– (McKenzie, 2007).

119. 119
Benefits of High Brix
More Sugars, minerals, and
proteins – Less water
Forages and crops will taste
“sweeter” and be more nutrient
dense
Enhanced aroma
Indication of nutrient uptake
Helps plants resist disease
and insect infestation
Stored Forages & Crops –
Longer “shelf” life, better
nutritional values, better flavor
characteristics

120. Brix Advantage
 Brix 5.0% or less = ADG in low 1’s.
 Brix 8-12% = ADG in low to mid-2’s.
 Brix 12 – 15% = ADG in mid-high 2’s.
 Brix > 15% = ADG in high 2’s to 3’s.
 Every 1.0% increase in Brix adds 0.1 to 0.3
ADG.
 Going from 3% to 6% Brix in dairy pastures
adds between 10-20% milk production.
120

121. Impact of forage quality on ADG

122. Single Season Forage Brix Impact: AMP
Grazing Vs. Conventional Grazing
Field Trial Location By State
PlantBrix
(%)

123. 123

124. 124

125. 125
Effects of Stage of Maturity on Pasture Composition
3 Lignin 7
Cellulose
Hemicellulose
14
18
30
23Minerals
12
5
Sugars
10
25
10
3
Lipid
33 Protein
7
Early Maturity Late MaturityMid Maturity

126. 126
Effects of Stage of Maturity on Pasture Composition
3 Lignin 7
Cellulose
Hemicellulose
14
18
30
23Minerals
12
5
Sugars
10
25
10
3
Lipid
33 Protein
7
Early Maturity Late MaturityMid Maturity
Sweet Spot

127. 127
Coffee County, TN
Long Term No-Till on
Left. Planted 2 weeks
earlier. No Cover crop.
Planted into rolled
down cover crop

128. 128

129. 129

130. What They Did
Cover Crop – 8 Seed Mix – Cereal Rye, Winter Oats, Triticale,
Winter Pea, Hairy Vetch, Crimson Clover, Daikon Radish,
Canola
Rolled down Early May. Planted into 20K+ standing biomass.
C:N ratio > 30:1.
Planted using a Roller and JD Air Seeder.
Lost all fear of biomass. If we can get it on the ground we can
plant.
Less than 5.5 inches rain from planting until August. 55+ days
with 90-98 temp.
Cover Crop Field yield 215 bu/ac. No-Till yield 160 bu/ac.
130

131. Illinois Trial
Collected baseline data in Spring 2014.
Planted complex cover crop into standing crop.
Adaptively grazed cover and employed Quorum
Sensing products.
Followed with cash crop for 2015.
Collected data again following 2015 harvest.
131

132. 1
3
2
Earthworm Castings and Impact in a
Corn Field

133. 2014 Data - Start of
season (pre-test)
Soil pH - 6.5
Soil OM - 2.4%
CEC - 10.3%
Soil P (lbs/ac) - 145, Soil
K - 252, Soil Ca - 3267,
Mg - 178
2015 Data (end of
season, August)
Soil pH - 7.3
Soil OM - 3.5%
CEC - 15.8%
Soil P - 190, K - 568, Ca
- 5346, Mg - 405
Cut N 55%
133

134. Illinois Grazing Trial
134
6 inches rain in
two days.
2 inches rain night
before

135. Penn State Trials
Compared 2 seed mix to 6 seed mix
9 Year Trial
Grazed both treatments the same – Rotation
Soil C
– 0.5 tons/Ha/Year
– 1.8 tons/Ha/Year
Forage Biomasss
– 31% more in 6 seed mix
135

136. 136
Winter Stockpile Grazing

137. Value of Winter Stockpile
Suggested Sample
TDN >60 65
NDFd (30 hour) 60 - 70 62
NE/L .65 - .70 .68
RFQ (Dairy) 140 - 170 179
137

138. Thank you!