by Jolene Bopp, Public Affairs Specialist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Des Moines, Iowa

Many are surprised to find out that Iowa has almost three million woodland acres, and nearly all of it is privately owned. Although the majority of Iowa is cropland, most Iowa farms have at least some wooded areas: whether it is along a creek, edge of fields, or odd areas that are difficult to farm. Woodlands play a bigger role than they may appear at first glance, and just like crop fields, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) believes a healthy system starts from the ground up. 

Why it Matters

Woodlands are sometimes treated as separate from the rest of the farm, but even a small forested area can

 play a direct role in how the whole system performs. 

Healthy woodlands can be especially beneficial on the edge of fields. A healthy woodland field border can:

• Reduce wind erosion by serving as a windbreak.
• Help with ponding in draws or at the bottom of a field by increasing soil infiltration and water uptake. 
• Trap and filter runoff before it reaches a stream.
• Protect agricultural land by stabilizing streambanks.
• Harbor the beneficial animals and insects that prey on crop pests and disrupt pest movement between fields.

Iowa NRCS State Forester Bailey Yotter encourages Iowa’s woodland owners to develop a forest management plan that considers soil health. “When soil function is limited, it will show up across the entire operation,” she said. “Forestry experts can help landowners identify soil health concerns and talk through best management practices to support their operation while simultaneously improving the soil.”

Start with a Walk in Your Woods

Yotter says improving woodland soil health starts with observation. She recommends taking a walk through your woods after it rains, and look straight down at the ground to see: 

• Is the ground covered or bare?
• Does water soak in or run off?
• Do you see roots, leaf litter, and signs of life?

Next, Yotter says to look around. There are often signs when the system is not functioning as it should:

• Are most of the slopes exposed? Is there anything growing on them? 
• Does water pool anywhere or has it cut paths through the timber? 
• Are there thick patches of invasive species like garlic mustard or bush honeysuckle? 
• Do you see trees of different ages and species? 

These conditions typically indicate underlying soil health concerns. 

While there are many different causes of soil health problems, invasive species are one of the most common. Invasive plants disrupt soil biology, crowd native vegetation, reduce root diversity, shade understory plants, and often leave soil exposed and hungry. This weakens soil structure, causes erosion, and limits the natural processes that cycle nutrients and support plant growth. 

What Management Really Looks Like

“When you don’t manage your timber, the soil becomes stressed, which leads to stressed trees and slow growth and mortality,” said Yotter. “On the other hand, when the soil is healthy, it promotes good native species regeneration which are disappearing from our landscape.”

Addressing invasive species is one of the most direct ways to improve overall woodland function and soil health, says Yotter. Improving woodlands and soil function means focusing on a few key actions:

• Control invasive species early to prevent spread.
• Maintain soil cover through leaf litter and understory plants.
• Mimic natural disturbances like fire, promoting natural tree and understory regeneration, and rotational grazing.
• Avoid equipment or traffic when soil is wet to reduce compaction.
• Encourage plant diversity of native trees, shrubs, and understory plants.

In some situations, adopting a suite of conservation practices like prescribed burning and forest stand improvement will help achieve many improvement goals simultaneously. 

How NRCS Can Help

Some forests stretch wide and uninterrupted, while others are small, scattered patches. Some support livestock grazing, others provide space for hiking, hunting, or quiet recreation. Some have been newly planted and are just beginning to take root, while others have stood for decades. 

Each type is managed differently, but the same principles of soil health apply. NRCS works with landowners to evaluate woodland and soil conditions and identify resource concerns. 

Using tools like the Forestland in Field Soil Health Assessment, NRCS conservationists look at indicators such as soil cover (herbaceous vegetation, overstory plants, and wood debris), signs of soil disturbances, soil structure, soil fauna/biological diversity, and roots to determine the presence of a resource concern. From there, they work with landowners to select management strategies that address resource concerns and benefit the operation. 

To learn more about ways to address soil health concerns and financial assistance program options for woodlands, contact your local NRCS Service Center.