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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #137785
Title: IRRIGATED CROPPING SYSTEM EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER VALUES DETERMINED BY WEIGHT-LOSS-ON-IGNITION

Author
item Varvel, Gary
item Wilhelm, Wallace

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/11/2002
Publication Date: 11/1/2002
Citation: VARVEL, G.E., WILHELM, W.W. IRRIGATED CROPPING SYSTEM EFFECTS ON SOIL ORGANIC MATTER VALUES DETERMINED BY WEIGHT-LOSS-ON-IGNITION. AGRONOMY ABSTRACTS #113841. 2002.

Interpretive Summary: Understanding N fertility and crop rotation effects on changes in soil organic matter in irrigated cropping systems is required before producers or regulators can make informed decisions regarding management or policy. An experiment initiated in 1991 with 3 cropping systems, (i) continuous corn, (ii) continuous soybean, and (iii) corn-soybean, with five N fertilizer rates at Shelton, NE was used to collect data to for preliminary investigation into the effects of crop rotation and N fertilizer on soil organic matter in irrigated systems. Soil samples in pre-selected cropping system and N fertilizer treatments were taken in the spring of 2001 from the 0-7.5, 7.5-15, and 15-30 cm depths and analyzed for organic matter by weight loss on ignition (4 hours at 450 degrees Centigrade). Results indicated cropping system and N fertilizer significantly affected organic matter levels in the surface 0-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm depths, but not at the 15-30 cm depth. Preliminary analyses indicated significant increases in organic matter were obtained in tilled irrigated cropping systems with adequate levels of N fertilizer. Further investigations are in process.

Technical Abstract: Understanding N fertility and crop rotation effects on changes in soil organic matter in irrigated cropping systems is required before producers or regulators can make informed decisions regarding management or policy. An experiment initiated in 1991 with 3 cropping systems, (i) continuous corn, (ii) continuous soybean, and (iii) corn-soybean, with five N fertilizer rates at Shelton, NE was used to collect data to for preliminary investigation into the effects of crop rotation and N fertilizer on soil organic matter in irrigated systems. Soil samples in pre-selected cropping system and N fertilizer treatments were taken in the spring of 2001 from the 0-7.5, 7.5-15, and 15-30 cm depths and analyzed for organic matter by weight loss on ignition (4 hours at 450 degrees Centigrade). Results indicated cropping system and N fertilizer significantly affected organic matter levels in the surface 0-7.5 and 7.5-15 cm depths, but not at the 15-30 cm depth. Preliminary analyses indicated significant increases in organic matter were obtained in tilled irrigated cropping systems with adequate levels of N fertilizer. Further investigations are in process.