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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412236
Research Project: Transdisciplinary Research that Improves the Productivity and Sustainability of Northern Great Plains Agroecosystems and the Well-Being of the Communities They Serve

Location: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory

Title: Data from ‘Response of soil carbon and nitrogen to transplanted alfalfa in North Dakota rangeland'

Author
item Liebig, Mark
item Hendrickson, John

Submitted to: Ag Data Commons
Publication Type: Database / Dataset
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/2/2024
Publication Date: 2/2/2024
Citation: Liebig, M.A., Hendrickson, J.R. 2024. Data from ‘Response of soil carbon and nitrogen to transplanted alfalfa in North Dakota rangeland'. Ag Data Commons. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/25035926.v1. Accessed, 2/3/24. (dataset)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/25035926.v1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Alfalfa (Medicago spp.) interseeded into rangeland has been shown to improve the quantity and quality of forage available for grazing. Information regarding soil responses to interseeded alfalfa in rangeland, however, is lacking. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of alfalfa transplanted into native rangeland on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen. The study was located approximately 5 km south of Mandan, ND USA on a Temvik silt loam soil (USDA: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive frigid Typic Haplustoll). Treatments included three alfalfa cultivars transplanted into rangeland and a native vegetation control. Treatments were applied using a randomized block design with five replications. Soil properties measured during the study included soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, and total soil nitrogen. Measurements were made in 2001 (baseline) and again 2005 following four years of alfalfa growth. Samples were collected using a step-down probe in depth increments of 0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm. Duplicate cores from each treatment were composited by depth. Soil carbon and nitrogen were quantified by the dry combustion method. Data may be used to understand soil property responses to interseeded alfalfa in rangeland. Data are generally applicable to rangelands under a semiarid Continental climate for the following soil types: Grassna, Linton, Mandan, Temvik, Williams, and Wilton.