Development of a Soil Health Demonstration Network in North Dakota.

Producers in North Dakota are facing many soil health related issues in their agronomic systems, including but not limited to salinity, sodicity, and generally reduced soil function.  Thus, management options to improve soil health are of interest. To better answer the question of “how to improve soil health?” a network of demonstrations have been set up across the eastern part of the state. The long-term goal is to use large, replicated, in-field plots to evaluate management options of local interest.  This provides the opportunity for growers to have input on management practices will be utilized and have access to progress of that treatment with limited personal risk. Ideally this will lead to increased adoption of soil health based management practices at the regional level. Treatments vary across sites; most address salinity management, while others address sodium-affected soils. The primary goal of this demonstration network is to provide technical support to producers on practices, which build soil health so that they can take the information and apply it on-farm