Long-Term soil change in the U.S. Great Plains: An evaluation of the Haas soil archive

Authors: Liebig, Mark; CALDERON, FRANCISCO - Oregon State University; Clemensen, Andrea; Durso, Lisa; DUTTENHEFNER, JESSICA - North Dakota State University; EBERLY, JED - Montana State University; Halvorson, Jonathan; Jin, Virginia; Mankin, Kyle; MARGENOT, ANDREW - University Of Illinois; Stewart, Catherine; Van Pelt, Robert - Scott; Vigil, Merle

Submitted to: Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/29/2024
Publication Date: 4/30/2024
Citation: Liebig, M.A., Calderon, F.J., Clemensen, A.K., Durso, L.M., Duttenhefner, J.L., Eberly, J.O., Halvorson, J.J., Jin, V.L., Mankin, K.R., Margenot, A.J., Stewart, C.E., Van Pelt, R.S., Vigil, M.F. 2024. Long-Term soil change in the U.S. Great Plains: An evaluation of the Haas soil archive. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 7. Article e20502. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20502.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20502

Interpretive Summary: Detecting changes in soil properties under dryland cropping in the U.S. Great Plains can take decades. Long-term monitoring sites and the availability of stored soil samples can be used to understand soil change in this important agricultural region. Effects of dryland cropping on several soil properties were studied by comparing matched soil samples from 1947 and 2018 at three sites in the U.S. Great Plains: Moccasin, MT, Akron, CO, and Big Spring, TX. Current analytical methods were used determine changes in soil texture, pH, carbon, and micronutrients at 0-6 and 6-12 inch depths. Changes in the direction and magnitude of soil properties over 71-years were site-specific. Changes in soil texture occurred at all sites. Moccasin and Akron transitioned from loam to clay loam, while Big Spring transitioned from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. Soil pH changed from slightly alkaline to moderately acid at Akron, and slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline at Big Spring. Soil organic carbon in the 0-6 inch depth decreased by 15 and 36% at Moccasin and Big Spring, respectively, but increased by 15% at Akron. Soil micronutrients generally declined across all sites. Findings from this study highlighted how long-term soil change under dryland cropping can differ depending on site attributes such as management, soil type, and weather.

Technical Abstract: Diverse patterns of climate and edaphic factors challenge detection of soil property change in the U.S. Great Plains. Because detectable soil change can take decades, insights into the trajectory of soil properties frequently require long-term site monitoring, and where available, associated soil archives to enable comparisons with initial or baseline states. Unfortunately, few multi-decadal soil change investigations have been conducted in this region. Here, we document effects of dryland cropping on a suite of soil properties by comparing matched historic (1947) and contemporary (2018) soil samples from the Haas Soil Archive at three sites in the U.S. Great Plains: Moccasin, MT, Akron, CO, and Big Spring, TX. Current analytical methods were used to provide insight into changes in soil texture, pH, carbon, and micronutrients at 0-15.2 and 15.2-30.5 cm depths. Changes in direction and magnitude of soil properties over 71-years were site-specific. Changes in textural class occurred at all sites, with Moccasin and Akron transitioning from loam to clay loam, and Big Spring from sandy clay loam to sandy loam. Soil pH reaction class changed from slightly alkaline to moderately acid at Akron, and slightly alkaline to moderately alkaline at Big Spring. At 0-15.2 cm, soil organic carbon decreased by 15 and 36% at Moccasin and Big Spring, respectively, but increased by 15% at Akron. Soil micronutrients generally declined across all sites. Climate-related variables derived from air temperature and precipitation records were not correlated with soil change. Inferred factors contributing to soil change included on-site management, inherent features of the soil, weather metrics not evaluated, soil loss by erosion, or a combination thereof.