Soil Aeration

Soil Aeration is an important conservation tillage practice that keeps crop

and plant residue on the soil and prevents erosion and runoff. Using a soil aerator is considered a best management practice, one that can reduce the phosphorus load into nearby waterways and Lake Champlain.

An aerator creates a vertical slit in the soil that opens up the soil for better water and nutrient infiltration and decreases compaction at the surface, at least on a temporary basis. An aerator can break down thatch, a common cause of runoff in dairy pastures.

An Aerator is used by farmers before manure application to reduce nutrient runoff and increase manure absorption into fields. Farmers also aerate fields to break-up sod-bound fields and pastures, loosening the soil before cover crop planting and before frost seeding.

The benefits of using an aerator include the potential to improve soil health;

Healthy soils absorb water and nutrients and produce higher quality feed and crops. Aeration has been used to restore soil to a healthier balance of mineral soil, organic matter, air and water. Potential to reduce compaction: Compaction makes both wet and dry conditions more severe and increases runoff.

Potential to improve water quality from field runoff; The aerator increases infiltration into the soil, decreases compaction of the soil and prevents excess nutrient runoff. The aerator leaves crop residue on the surface of the soil, retaining organic matter and preventing soil erosion.

The WNRCD recently partnered with Stone Environmental and the University of Vermont to document the benefits of soil aeration using the aerator on fields in Vermont. From that data and others updated educational material was created. In addition the WNRCD has an aerator to rent out to farmers to implement this valuable best management practice.

For more information on soil aeration, please visit: www.winooskinrcd.org

This blog post, scientific research and other WNRCD outreach material related to the Aerator has been created or updated under a grant agreement by NESARE.

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