Carbon, biological and organic amendments to improve nutrient cycling and soil health

The following videos and handouts will help farmers learn more about using carbon and organic amendments to improve nutrient cycling and soil health. They include demonstrations on using liquid tankage and compost tea to improve nitrogen fertilizer efficiency and how to setup a trial and calculate plant available nitrogen (PAN) from cover crops. These handouts were either created to support farmers in this soil health cohort or referenced during this session by CTAHR extension agents, Josh Silva, Jensen Uyeda, and Amjad Ahmad.

Setting Up a Cover Crop Trial & Calculating Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) Part 1

Carbon Amendments & SolVita In-Field Test for Biological Activity

Dr. Koon Hui Wang and Josh Silva deliver this field demonstration at Kahumana Organic Farms, Waianae, Oahu

Setting Up a Cover Crop Trial & Calculating Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) Part 2

Dr. Koon Hui Wang leads us through the process for determining the seeding rate for specific cover crop varieties.

Setting Up a Cover Crop Trial & Calculating Plant Available Nitrogen (PAN) Part 3

Dr. Koon Hui Wang leads us through the process for calculating PAN from specific cover crops and based on the nitrogen needs of specific crops.

Handouts

  1. Intro to organic amendments (PDF)
  2. Fertigation with Tankage and Compost (PDF)
  3. Calculating nitrogen contributions from cover crops (PDF)
    Use this CTAHR resource to learn how to calculate PAN from your cover crop. This pdf will give you a foundation for viewing the videos below, which demonstrate how to setup a cover crop system as a nitrogen fertilizer source for your crops. This resource and the videos will help you think about cover crop varieties to select, when to terminate your cover crop and how to integrate it into your soil as a nitrogen fertilizer source.
  4. Tools to Improve Nutrient Cycling (PDF)
  5. Application of poultry litter biochar in a diversified veggie operation (PDF)
    Use this example to learn how farmers in our cohort have setup up a simple field trial to use poultry litter biochar in a diversified veggie operation. Materials developed by: Oahu RC&D Project Team: India Clark, Louise Martin, Megan Gonsalves

Handouts

  1. Intro to organic amendments (PDF)
  2. Fertigation with Tankage and Compost (PDF)
  3. Calculating nitrogen contributions from cover crops (PDF)
    Use this CTAHR resource to learn how to calculate PAN from your cover crop. This pdf will give you a foundation for viewing the videos below, which demonstrate how to setup a cover crop system as a nitrogen fertilizer source for your crops. This resource and the videos will help you think about cover crop varieties to select, when to terminate your cover crop and how to integrate it into your soil as a nitrogen fertilizer source.
  4. Tools to Improve Nutrient Cycling (PDF)
  5. Application of poultry litter biochar in a diversified veggie operation (PDF)
    Use this example to learn how farmers in our cohort have setup up a simple field trial to use poultry litter biochar in a diversified veggie operation. Materials developed by: Oahu RC&D Project Team: India Clark, Louise Martin, Megan Gonsalves