Why don’t sod farms run out of soil? (ASK Around)

At first glance, sod farming might look like a disaster for soil health: the fertile top layer of soil gets stripped away gradually, year after year, and carted away as rolls of turf for installation elsewhere. It seems impossible for sod farms to keep in business for decades and generations, and yet, with careful management, their fields stay thriving and successful. What’s their secret?

One important factor is minimizing the actual soil that gets harvested. Those rolls of sod available for purchase are mostly roots and thatch with just a bit of soil still clinging on. There really is some soil loss, and research shows that if harvests are too aggressive or fields are pushed too hard, it can add up and become a real sustainability problem. But sod farmers carefully prepare their fields before seeding (leveling the ground) and before harvesting (adjusting moisture) to make sure it’s mostly just turf that gets removed. They also tailor fertilizer, irrigation, and mowing practices to encourage productivity of roots and rhizomes to create strong sod that holds together without much soil.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

At the same time, some soil is removed with each harvest. To counterbalance this, sod farmers’ key sustainability strategy is to rebuild the soil between harvests. They test the soil, replenish depleted nutrients with fertilizer as needed, and often add compost or other organic amendments to restore structure, moisture-holding capacity, and nutrient reserves--strategies homeowners and gardeners can use to improve their soil health as well. Cover crops and green manures protect the sod farm fields between regular gorwing seasons, rather than leaving exposed soil vulnerable to winter erosion. In short, sod farmers aren’t just growing grass for sale; they’re managing their soil as a long-term resource that’s maintained and renewed year after year.

Click here to learn more about best management practices for sod farming.