Comparing impacts of corn residue removal and amelioration practices on soil properties after 3, 6, and 10 years

Authors: Klopp, Hans; BLANCO-CANQUI, HUMBERTO - University Of Nebraska; SINDELAR, MICHAEL - University Of Nebraska; Jin, Virginia; Schmer, Marty

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2024
Publication Date: 2/23/2024
Citation: Klopp, H.W., Blanco-Canqui, H., Sindelar, M., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R. 2024. Comparing impacts of corn residue removal and amelioration practices on soil properties after 3, 6, and 10 years. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 88:510-526. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20629.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20629

Interpretive Summary: Corn is a commonly grown crop in the state of Nebraska which produces residues that can be used for animal feed, bedding, and biofuel production. Removing these residues can have negative effects on soil quality. Cover crop or animal manure amendments may be able to prevent some of the negative effects to soil properties that occur by removing corn residue. Scientists from USDA (Lincoln, Nebraska and Bushland Texas) and University of Nebraska Lincoln analyzed how corn residue removal effects soil properties after 3, 6 and 10 years and whether animal manure and rye cover crop negated the effects of residue removal on soil properties. Removing crop residues with no amendment reduced soil carbon concentration from year 3 to year 10, whereas adding cover crop and animal manure amendments maintained soil carbon concentration. When residues were retained, soil carbon concentration increased in manure treatments but was similar under cover crop and no amendment. Removing crop residues reduced the stability of soil structure and soil water storage. Cover crop and manure did not prevent these negative consequences. Removing corn residue and adding cover crops and manure did not have negative effects on the rate that water flows through the soil. Ten years of corn residue removal caused some negative consequences to soil properties which were not improved by adding rye cover crop or animal manure.

Technical Abstract: Information on corn (Zea mays L.) residue removal and organic amendment additions to ameliorate removal effects on soil properties is limited. Thus, we compared impacts of corn residue removal at 59% and organic amendments (winter rye, Secale cereale) cover crop and manure every other year at (24 Mg ha-1) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and physical properties after 10 years (yr) under irrigated no-till continuous corn on a silt loam in the western US Corn Belt. We collected soil property data after 10 yr and then compared with earlier results from this experiment (3 and 6 yr). Cover crop and manure amendments maintained SOC concentration but no amelioration (-15%) practice reduced SOC concentration from 3 to 10 yr when residues were annually removed in 0-5 cm depth. Under residue retention SOC concentration increased with time with the largest increase occurring under manure amelioration practice (+41%) in 0-5 cm depth. Residue removal reduced soil wet aggregate stability by 34% and dry by 73%, bulk density by 6%; water content at -33 kPa by 14%, and plant available water by 17% after 10 yr in the 0-5 cm soil depth but did not affect infiltration rate. Cover crops increased wet aggregate stability (32%), but manure and cover crops had limited effects on other soil properties. Residue removal increased the susceptibility of the soil to erosion and reduced water retention and SOC after 3 yr, but such effects were not fully offset by amendments.