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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #376401
Research Project: Stewardship of Upper Midwest Soil and Air Resources through Regionally Adapted Management Practices

Location: Soil Management Research

Title: Soil organic carbon levels after six cycles of corn stover harvest

Author
item Johnson, Jane
item OJEKANMI, ABIMBOLA - Orise Fellow

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2020
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the backbone of soil organic matter (SOM), which is strongly associated with many positive soil attributes. Agricultural management may also include harvesting corn stover (the nongrain material remaining after harvesting grain) for variety of purposes, which may include bedding for animals or for use as cellulosic bioenergy feedstock. Removal of residues reduces the raw material available to replenish mineralized SOM. Presumably a minimal amount of residue is needed to support balance between mineralization and humification. A long-term study was established to assess the impact of repeated variable rates of corn stover in a corn-soybean rotation on SOC and other soil properties. Baseline soil samples were collected in 2005 to 100 cm with repeated sampling in 2010, 2013 and 2017 for assessing any changes SOC changes over time and as a function of stover return on two fields with contrasting tillage (chisel plow and no tillage).