how to do a soil slake test and what it means
This slake test shows the difference in soil structure between 10 years of tillage (on the left) and 10 years of pasture (on the right).
When dropped into water, the chunk of tilled soil quickly breaks apart as water is drawn into unstable pores.
On the other hand, the pasture soil has stable aggregates and macropores that maintain their form in the presence of water.
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Stable soil aggregates and macropores are formed when soil has the right ratio of cations to allow for flocculation,
enough biological activity to stick soil particles together with microbial and root exudates,
and sufficient organic matter to drive the cycle. While some tilled soils will have the right chemistry to form a healthy structure, routine tillage simply doesn't allow for the biological activity required to maintain the structure.
This results in poor nutrient cycling, drastically reduced water-holding capacity, and topsoil erosion. A slake test is a quick and easy way to grade a soil's structure. Video credit:
