Long-term soil and crop management effects on soil physical properties related to soil erodibility

Abstract

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Long-term soil and cropping systems affect soil physical properties thereby effecting soil erosion and erodibility. Understanding the effects of crop rotation with annual manure applications is critical for assessing the production potential of land. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of 125 years of continuous crop management on selected soil physical properties for Sanborn Field, Columbia, Missouri, USA. Intact soil cores were collected from continuous corn (Zea mays L.), continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), continuous timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and a rotation of corn-wheat-red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). The soil was Mexico silt loam (fine, smectitic, mesic, Vertic Epiaqualfs). Soil samples were collected from the surface horizon throughout one year (April, July, and November 2014 sampling dates). Significant differences in aggregate stability (P<0.01), splash detachment (P<0.01), soil shear strength (P<0.05), and bulk density (P<0.05) were found among the treatments. The continuous timothy treatment had 3 to 4 times better aggregate stability and 50 to 75% less splash detachment compared to the continuous wheat and corn treatments, respectively. The highest aggregate stability was found during July. Assessing the effects of long-term soil management on soil quality and erodibility is critical for society to assess the amount of soil erosion with selected soil management and develop appropriate conservation practices to minimize this challenge.