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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153031
Title: GREAT PLAINS SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROJECT: SOIL CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Author
item Mikha, Maysoon
item Vigil, Merle
item Liebig, Mark
item Wienhold, Brian
item Bowman, Rudolph
item MCCONKEY, BRIAN - AGRIC&AGRI-FOOD CANADA
item DEIBERT, EDWARD - NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV
item Pikul Jr, Joseph

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2003
Publication Date: 11/2/2004
Citation: Mikha, M.M., Vigil, M.F., Liebig, M.A., Wienhold, B.J., Bowman, R.A., Mcconkey, B., Deibert, E., Pikul Jr, J.L. 2004. Great plains soil quality assessment project: soil chemical properties. Agronomy Abstracts. Presented at the Annual American Society of Agronomy Meeting (ASA), November 2003. Denver, Colo.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: How soil is managed in regional cropping system can have long-term affects on soil and environmental quality. This study examined the effect of different cropping intensity on selected soil chemical properties in established (since 1991) cropping system of Great Plains and western Corn Belt. Soil organic C (OC), total N (TN), particular organic matter (POM), inorganic N, electrical conductivities (EC), and soil PH, were evaluated at 8-sites with 2 different cropping intensities within each site (traditional and alternative cropping system) for 4-yr (1999 to 2002). Result of this study indicated that no-tillage (NT) and/or elimination of fallow treatment with alternative cropping systems significantly (p<0.05) improved OC and TN (0-7.5 cm depth) in 5 out of 8 study sites (Akron, CO, Bushland, TX, Fargo, ND, Mandan, ND, and Swift Current, SK). Although there was no significant effect due to different management systems at Sidney, MT, alternative system improved soil OC and TN by 42% and 47%, respectively, compared with traditional system. The same pattern was almost observed with POM (0-7.5 cm depth), where it was significantly (p<0.05) greater at 4 out of 8 study sites (Bushland, TX, Mandan, ND, Sidney, MT, and Swift Current, SK). No consistent pattern was observed with soil EC and PH due to different management practices. However, soil EC explained almost 50% of the variability of soil inorganic N at 0-7.5 cm depth.