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Title: SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND LANDSCAPE POSITION INTERACTIONS ON NUTRIENT DISTRIBUTION IN A COASTAL PLAIN FIELD

Author
item Balkcom, Kipling
item TERRA, JOSE - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item SHAW, JOSEPH - AUBURN UNIVERSITY
item Reeves, Donald
item Raper, Randy

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Balkcom, K.S., Terra, J.A., Shaw, J.N., Reeves, D.W., Raper, R.L. 2004. Soil management system and landscape position interactions on nutrient distribution in a coastal plain field [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy Meetings. CDROM

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil nutrient concentrations vary with soil management system and landscape position, but limited information exists to describe these differences on a field scale. We evaluated pH, P, and K levels at three depths (0-5 cm, 5-15 cm, and 15-30 cm) and three landscape positions (summit, sideslope, and drainageway) in a 9 ha field with four different management systems after three yr. Soils ranged from Aquic to Typic Paleudults. Management systems consisted of a conventional and conservation tillage system with or without dairy bedding manure (CTM or CT, and NTM or NT, respectively). Manure applications increased pH and nutrient concentrations regardless of tillage system in the surface 0-5 cm. Nutrient and pH concentrations also increased following manure applications at the lower depths, however, concentrations decreased with depth. Mean P concentrations varied as a function of landscape and depth (85.6 summit vs. 61.0 mg kg-1 sideslope 0-5 cm and 54.7 drainageway vs. 25.7 mg kg-1 sideslope 5-15cm). The summit and sideslope exhibited differences in pH between tillage systems in the 0-5 and 5-15 cm depths, while K concentrations were only different for the sideslope (0-5 cm) and the depression area (5-15 cm). These results will provide a basis for improvements in existing variable rate nutrient applications on Coastal Plain soils.