Kootenay - Soils

Tools, factsheets and resources for the Kootenay agricultural region on the following soil and nutrient topics:

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.

Kootenay Soil Building Network

The Kootenay Soil Building Network is an ongoing project in partnership with the Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors.  The network uses online virtual meetings and on farm demonstrative work to help share knowledge and improve soil health in our region. 

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

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  
  • Full meeting notes and resources archive
• 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
  • Full meeting notes and resources archive
• 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
  • Full meeting notes
• 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.
  • Full meeting notes
• 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
  • Full meeting notes
• More resources from the network at our partner’s website (via Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors) 

Top requested documents for Kootenay

• Understanding Soil pH (PDF)
• Acidifying Soils (PDF)
• Manure Sampling and Analysis for Nutrient Management (PDF)
• Forage Crop Sampling for Nutrient Management (PDF)

Soil testing resources

Guides, contacts and tools for conducting soil tests and determining fertilizer recommendations. 

• 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.

Agriculture Canada soil surveys

Interactive soil maps may be viewed online via the Soil Information Finder tool.  For questions about specific soil survey maps and data sets, contact Agriculture Canada.

• Upper Kootenay and Elk River Valleys
• Upper Columbia River Valley
• Creston area
• Nelson area
•  More Kootenay and B.C. soil maps and surveys

Agricultural Land Commission maps

• Kootenay Administrative Region (PDF)
• Agricultural Land Reserve interactive map

​Soil management

• Provincial resources related to soil management and health
• See chapters 6 and 8 of the Environmental Farm Plan Reference Guide for nutrient application and soil management topics, including relevant regulations and beneficial management practices
  • Environmental Farm Plan Reference Guide (PDF)