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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #354608
Research Project: Soil and Crop Management for Enhanced Soil Health, Resilient Cropping Systems, and Sustainable Agriculture in the Northern Great Plains

Location: Integrated Cropping Systems Research

Title: Corn residue particle size affects soil surface properties

Author
item STETSON, SARAH - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item Lehman, R - Michael
item Osborne, Shannon

Submitted to: Agricultural and Environmental Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/9/2018
Publication Date: 5/3/2018
Citation: Stetson, S.J., Lehman, R.M., Osborne, S.L. 2018. Corn residue particle size affects soil surface properties. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. 3:180004. https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2018.01.0004.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2018.01.0004

Interpretive Summary: Mechanical operations such as chopping, raking and baling of corn stalks may have an impact on crop residue size distributions, changing residue decomposition rates in addition to soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. In a 150-d laboratory experiments demonstrating a no-till cropping system, soil microbial respiration was inversely proportional to residue particle size, but decreased with time in the smallest particle size. Residue particle size had an impact on soil carbon levels with the smallest particle sizes producing the longest lasting effects. Each particle size class demonstrated a different pattern of nitrogen cycling during the experiment. We conclude that crop residue management operations result in characteristic residue size distributions that moderate decomposition activities and result in unique soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics.

Technical Abstract: Field operations may differentially influence crop residue size distributions that in turn modify residue decomposition rates and soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics. In 150-d laboratory experiments modeling a no-till cropping system, soil microbial respiration was initially inversely proportional to residue particle size, but decreased with time in the smallest particle size. Residue particle size significantly affected soil C levels with the smallest particle sizes producing the longest lasting effects. Each particle size class demonstrated a unique pattern of N immobilization–mineralization during the experiment. We conclude that crop residue management operations result in characteristic residue size distributions that moderate decomposition activities and result in unique soil C and N dynamics.