The economic situation, rising operating costs, and extreme weather conditions are posing ever-greater challenges for farmers. This makes it all the more important to keep the soil healthy and fertile – with targeted measures to promote straw decomposition and humus accumulation.
After the harvest is before the harvest: Now is the time to set the course for the next season. Especially after humus-depleting crops such as potatoes, sugar beet, or silage maize, selling straw should be carefully considered. This is because straw provides valuable humus carbon and contributes significantly to soil fertility.
Why humus is so important
Humus-rich soil offers many advantages:
- promotes soil life
- increases biological activity
- improves root penetration
- increases pore volume and water retention capacity
- protects against erosion
50 dt/ha of straw can provide around 500 kg of humus carbon – which is more than three times the amount from 25 m³ of pig slurry.
How to promote straw decomposition
Nitrogen (e.g., Lebosol N36) used to be used to promote decomposition, but this is no longer permitted today according to the Fertilizer Ordinance. Instead, natural agents and adapted tillage can help:
- Only perform stubble cultivation when soil moisture is adequate
- Work shallow (e.g., with goosefoot shares) to protect soil life
- Use karrikin! This biologically active plant molecule promotes fermentation, binds nutrients, and increases enzymatic activity. Already 1 l karrikin/ha or a combination of 0.5 l karrikin + 2 l Bagira can achieve great effects.
Long-term benefits
Targeted measures to promote straw decomposition cost little but bring many benefits: better soil structure, higher water storage capacity, a stable humus balance – and ultimately higher yields even in dry years. Healthy, living soils are key to sustainable agriculture.
Image: created with the help of AI
Text basis: Johannes Seemeier, Kartoffelanbauberatung.de