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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421827
Research Project: Agronomic and Engineering Solutions for Conventional and Organic Conservation Agricultural Systems in the Southeastern U.S.

Location: Soil Dynamics Research

Title: Long-term organic and conventional cropping systems management influences soil strength

Author
item Schomberg, Harry
item Cavigelli, Michel
item Balkcom, Kipling
item White, Kathryn
item Thompson, Alondra

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/2024
Publication Date: 9/23/2024
Citation: Schomberg, H.H., Cavigelli, M.A., Balkcom, K.S., White, K.E., Thompson, A.I. 2024. Long-term organic and conventional cropping systems management influences soil strength [abstract]. Proceedings of 22nd International Conference of the International Soil Tillage Research Organization. Sep. 23-27, 2024; Virginia Beach, VA, USA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We evaluated soil strength before and following subsoiling for five crop management systems common in the Mid-Atlantic Region, USA. The research was conducted in the long-term Farming Systems Project (FSP) at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, MD (39.0°N, 76.9°W) from 2017 through 2020. The two conventional systems were 3-yr rotations of corn/rye cover crop–soybean/wheat/soybean managed with No-till (NT) or Chisel Till (CT). The three organic systems represented increasing rotation length and complexity: a 2-yr hairy vetch cover crop–corn/rye cover crop–soybean rotation (Org2); a 3-yr hairy vetch cover crop–corn/rye cover crop–soybean/wheat rotation (Org3); and a 6-yr corn/rye cover crop–soybean/wheat/alfalfa–alfalfa–alfalfa rotation (Org6). The organic systems utilized tillage of varying intensities and timing for weed control. Plots were split in half (6 rows each) and subsoiled in 2017 and 2019 after corn harvest when soils were at optimum moisture conditions. Soil strength was measured using a tractor-mounted hydraulic five probe penetrometer from nine locations in each subplot. Measurements were centered in subplots to capture both trafficked and non-trafficked mid-rows of subsoiled and non-subsoiled subplots. Initial measurements collected in spring 2017 prior to corn planting and prior to subsoiling indicated soil strength was greater in the CT compared to the NT soil profile. The Org systems had soil strength values more similar to CT compared to NT. The pattern of soil strength for the Org systems reflected traffic intensity with slightly greater soil strength in Org 6 compared to the other two systems. Org 6 measurements were made following 3 years of repeated perennial forage harvests. The effects of fall subsoiling on soil strength were obvious the following spring for all treatments and were greatly reduced after one year, but still distinguishable. A more detailed analysis of soil strength measurements will be presented for individual years in relation to management effects.