Kootenay Soil Building Network Resources
Kootenay Soil Building Network Resources
The Kootenay Soil Building Network is an ongoing project in partnership with the Kootenay and Boundary Farm Advisors and the Province of British Columbia. Â The network uses online virtual meetings and on farm demonstrative work to help share knowledge and improve soil health in our region.Â
Soil and nutrient management resources
Factsheets and handbooks for soil management and nutrient amendment practices. Note: some information in these documents may not be applicable to all areas. Always refer to your own soil test results and local weather conditions.Â
Case studies of Kootenay Farms’ soil building activities
- Bent Plow (PDF) – using compost and organic based fertilizers for vegetable production
- Cartwheel Farms (PDF) – using compost and organic based fertilizers for vegetable production
- Crooked Horn (PDF) – using plant based organic fertilizers for vegetable production
- PaVan Ranch (PDF) – integrating cover crops and livestock into alfalfa field rotations
- Kokanee Fruit (PDF) – investing in soil building and biology through cover crops and grazing for healthy, resilient orchards
- Kootenay Meadows (PDF) – using mulched cover crops to improve soil moisture retention in perennial alfalfa fields
Zoom Soil Discussion Webinar Series
- Introduction to Kootenay Soil Building Network – The first in the webinar series includes hearing from the farms that will be ongoing case studies in the project, discussion on soil texture, soil building indicators and questions from producers on project
- Nitrogen availability – Strategies to measure N availability and discussion on testing methods including nitrogen availability from different input sources
- Compost quality and quantity – With Dieter Geesing from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Soil Team discussing what to look out for when purchasing compost and the pros and cons of having compost as a farm’s primary farm input for fertility management
- Enhanced efficiency urea fertilizers and reducing loss of nitrogen – This session explored ways to optimize fertilizer use, reduce nitrogen loss, and consider different types of nitrogen fertilizers. Considerations and the attributes of slow-release fertilizers were discussed Â
- Fertilizer utilization and cost effectiveness – This session featured Lindsay Benbow, Forage Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Mike Malmberg, Farm Advisor.  Our guests and farmers shared fertilizer management strategies. Yield response curves, fertilizer application best practices, and guided discussion were supported by resource specialists and local farmers
- On-farm trial: compost vs. fertigation for onion production – In 2025, Bent Plow Farm conducted an on-farm trial comparing different fertility treatments for their onion crop to assess impacts on yield, quality, and overall on-farm efficiency. Discussion covered results from the controlled trial, including costs and the pros and cons of fertigation versus compost, along with reflections on soil nutrient management and plans for 2026
- Phosphorus availability – Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for crop production that farmers typically get from either animal inputs or fertilizers. Discussion reviewed the main chemical traits of phosphorus and discuss plant availability from animal or mineral forms, phosphorus inputs and how they might interact with the soil, soil microbes, and plant uptake.
- Soil building for market gardens, case study panel – The Kootenay Soil Building Network documented three certified organic farms including Bent Plow, Cartwheel, and Crooked Horn looking at each farm’s unique approach and cost to soil management. This panel discussion heard from the three participating farms about the process to reflect on their farm’s soil building history and next steps
Top Requested Documents for Kootenay
Soil Testing Resources
Guides, contacts and tools for conducting soil tests and determining fertilizer recommendations.Â
- Learn how to take a soil sample (PDF)
- Find a B.C.laboratory to analyze soil samples (PDF)
- Find an Alberta laboratory to analyze soil samples
- Understanding Different Soil Test Methods (PDF)
Tools and resources for interpreting soil test results are found on the Nutrient management webpage.
Additional Soil Resources
The Kootenay Soil Building Network is supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Regional Extension Program – with financial support provided under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
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