Drought-Damaged Soil Could See Long Road to Recovery
By: Kent Faddis, Bridget Blevins
Updated: February 11, 2013
(COLUMBIA, Mo.) The lingering drought could be felt for several years to come.
New research from the University of Missouri indicates the fallout for farmers and crops across the state might last for at least two more years.
The area battled its worst drought in years last summer. The problem goes much deeper than the dry soil and crops we can see. The soil beneath the embattled crops has been suffering even longer. And, any little bits of moisture won't change that.
The area battled its worst drought in years last summer. The problem goes much deeper than the dry soil and crops we can see. The soil beneath the embattled crops has been suffering even longer. And, any little bits of moisture won't change that.
"What we may be sinking into the soil now may not get down to the, let's say, four or five foot level until later in the spring, or early summer," said Randall Miles, Associate Professor of Soil Science at the the MU School of Natural Resources.
Miles said researchers even found some roots in the Midwest going down as deeps as 8 feet to extract water and nutrients. He says each foot of soil holds about two inches of water. Fully depleted soil needs 16 inches of water to completely recharge
"It's a long-term investment, we can't just recharge the soil profile immediately," Miles said.
Despite recent rains across Missouri, the soil has seen little change.
"I've had a couple recent calls during the recent event of rainfalls that said water levels are up in my pond or local creek; we're out of problems. My response is no, on the surface we're there but down below we're still dry," added Miles.
Even if we see more snow this winter or a rainy spring, the dry soil will be a problem for years.
"It's going to take about two years to replenish the supply to get back to normal conditions," said Miles.
Miles said it could take up to three years for some farmers to see bumper crops again.
He said the dry conditions are also impacting insects and barge traffic on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
"It's a long-term investment, we can't just recharge the soil profile immediately," Miles said.
Despite recent rains across Missouri, the soil has seen little change.
"I've had a couple recent calls during the recent event of rainfalls that said water levels are up in my pond or local creek; we're out of problems. My response is no, on the surface we're there but down below we're still dry," added Miles.
Even if we see more snow this winter or a rainy spring, the dry soil will be a problem for years.
"It's going to take about two years to replenish the supply to get back to normal conditions," said Miles.
Miles said it could take up to three years for some farmers to see bumper crops again.
He said the dry conditions are also impacting insects and barge traffic on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
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