Robyn Stewart
Driving down the road in Lincoln County right now, it is not unusual to see creek beds overflowing and unexpected water features in people’s yards and pastures. In the last 60 days, Lincoln County has received between 10 and 15 inches of rain. In contrast, our normal rainfall for the same period is around 3 inches. These values are from the National Weather Service and can be found online. While the implications of such heavy rainfall so early in the year are hard to pinpoint, there are definitely some things to keep in mind as we come into spring.
From an agriculture standpoint, heavy rains like we’ve been experiencing not only slow down our scheduled soil tests, amendments, and preparations, but also can have significant impact on soil quality and runoff. The soil profiles in Lincoln County are all at or near saturation level, which means we have exceeded the soil’s ability to filter and absorb rainfall. As a result, surface runoff levels are significantly higher than normal, even with best conservation practices. From a farming standpoint, there’s not much we can do at this point. However, there are several ways to help improve cover in the future which can help reduce runoff. The use of a no-till or conservation tilling practice paired with permanent vegetation or cover crops can reduce the speed of water runoff and soil erosion. Farmers should also be concerned about nutrient runoff from their fields. Nitrogen may be significantly lower than normal due to leaching and runoff in the surface water, but care should be taken with the use of fertilizers in this time, as they should not be applied during or just before a rain event. We highly recommend soil testing once we get some drier weather in order to invest in the correct fertilizers.
It’s not surprise that our waterways are completely overloaded with storm water runoff after 15 inches of rain. A watershed is the surrounding land area that drains into a body of water. Surface water runoff carries sediment (erosion) and nutrients (pollution) from the watershed into the body of water. This influx of soil from areas that are bare or have steep slopes can cause sedimentation in the waterway, causing it to become shallower. Toxic contamination of the water can also occur from runoff in the form of chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, urban runoff, and more. These contaminants can pose a serious threat to aquatic life. Some of the things we can do to help protect our waterways are to ensure the surrounding watershed area has as little bare soil as possible as vegetation helps slow erosion, and to limit the use of toxic pollutants.
Homeowners may have questions around how to manage their garden or planting sites given the excess rain. To start with, we recommend you plant native plants who are resistant to fungal disease and pests as they are best adapted for this region. If possible, homeowners should avoid walking in the wet soil of their garden. Walking can compact the soil and limit the plant root growth, cause stress, and overall damage the longevity of your plantings. Plant diseases like bacteria and fungi can also be a real issue in wet conditions due to prolonged leaf wetness and excess moisture in the root zone. Keep an eye out for stunted growth, wilting, and yellowing of leaves. Some plants will not germinate if planted in saturated soil. Rake away any mulch or soil that sits against the base of the plant as it will hold moisture and contribute to bacterial infection. Additionally, do not use any fertilizer, herbicides, or other chemicals if rain is forecasted in the next 24-48 hours.
Unfortunately, we cannot control the weather, but I am hopeful that March will be somewhat less wet than the year has started out. If you have any questions around soil testing, erosion and conservation practices, or water quality, please reach out to us at 706-359-3233 or uge3181@uga.edu.
