Linda Poole

NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist
The Noble Research Institute puts out a lot of useful information on regenerative ag, including this article by Kristina Tober on measuring soil health using the Haney test:

Developed by Rick Haney, a USDA-ARS researcher at the Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory in Temple, Texas, this integrated approach uses chemical and biological soil test data to mimic nature’s approach to soil nutrient availability as best as can be done in a lab. The test, which the USDA has adopted as its official Soil Health Nutrient Tool, helps farmers and ranchers answer three important questions:
  1. What’s the current condition of my soil?
  2. Is my soil in balance?
  3. What can I do to improve my soil?
What the Haney test can do:
The Haney soil health test integrates chemical and biological measurements to assess multiple soil test values, including:
  • Plant-available nutrients
  • Soil respiration
  • Water-soluble fractions of organic carbon (C) and organic nitrogen (N) and the ratio between them
It also provides nutrient recommendations for N, phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O) for a variety of crops, along with cover crop recommendations.
And what it DOESN'T do:
Note that the Haney test isn’t a complete evaluation of soil health, as it doesn’t account for things like water infiltration rates, water holding capacity or bulk density. It’s also just a snapshot in time of your soil health, since organic matter pools are in constant flux depending on microbial activity, management practices and the season.
Read the entirety of this helpful article at https://www.noble.org/regenerative-agriculture/soil/how-to-measure-soil-health-with-the-haney-test/.
 

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