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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #215858
Title: Using landscape restoration to increase crop yield on severely eroded hilltops

Author
item SMITH, DIANE - UNIV. OF MANITOBA
item LOBB, DAVID - UNIV. OF MANITOBA
item SCHUMACHER, THOMAS - SD STATE UNIV.
item Schneider, Sharon

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/2007
Publication Date: 11/8/2007
Citation: Smith, D., Lobb, D., Schumacher, T.E., Papiernik, S.K. 2007. Using landscape restoration to increase crop yield on severely eroded hilltops [abstract][CD-ROM]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. Nov. 4-8, 2007, New Orleans, LA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tillage is a dominant soil erosion process in cultivated hilly landscapes and is responsible for local soil redistribution with the landscape. Topsoil is lost from upper slope positions and accumulates in lower slope positions and depressions. Ultimately, the loss of topsoil on eroded upper slope positions results in reduced crop yield which is not offset by yield increases in areas of accumulation. Landscape restoration is an alternative and logical management practice that can be used to restore the productivity of eroded hilltops by removing accumulated topsoil from depressions and replacing it on the hilltops where it had originated. Four field-scale sites were established in southwestern Manitoba to evaluate the net benefit of landscape restoration on crop productivity. A paired comparison design was used to compare yield differences on severely eroded upper slope positions and upper slope positions which have been restored with 10 cm of added topsoil as well as, a comparison between depressional areas and areas where 10 cm of accumulated topsoil was removed. Significant yield increases where observed on restored hilltops, ranging from 380 to 1077 kg ha-1, without any yield loss where 10 cm of topsoil was removed. These results demonstrated that landscape restoration can provide producers with a practical and agronomically effective management practice to restoring crop productivity in eroded landscapes.