ARS | Publication request: IMPROVED SOIL QUALITY UNDER DIVERSIFIED ROTATION AND NO TILLAGE IN EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: April 19, 2005
Publication Date: July 30, 2005
Publisher's URL: http://swcs.org
Citation: Pikul Jr, J.L. 2005. Improved soil quality under diversified rotation and no tillage in Eastern South Dakota. 2005 Annual Meeting of Soil and Water Conservation Society, Rochester, New York, July 30-August 3, 2005. Available at http://swcs.org.

Technical Abstract: Crop rotation and tillage directly impact soil and the environment, but quantifying the effect of management on natural resources is difficult because of the length of time required for soil/crop systems to reach new equilibriums. Objectives were to determine effect of diversified crop rotation on: 1) soil quality attributes in transition following adoption of no tillage, and 2) production efficiency of corn. Experiments were started in 1997 on a Barnes clay loam near Brookings, SD. Rotations were continuous corn (CC), corn-soybean (CS), a 3-year rotation of corn-soybean-oat/pea hay (CSH), a 3-year rotation of corn-soybean-spring wheat (CSW), and a 5-year rotation of corn-soybean-oat/pea hay companion seeded with alfalfa-alfalfa-alfalfa (CSHAA). Average corn yield (1998-2003) was significantly (p=0.001) greater under CSW (6790 kg ha-1) compared with CC (4000 kg ha-1). Water use efficiency and N use efficiency was significantly (p=0.002) less under CC compared with other rotations. There were no differences in soil C in the top 8 cm among rotations, but average (all plots) soil C increased (p=0.001) 2.9 % from 1997 to 2003. Fine particulate organic matter (POM) of the top 8 cm increased (p=0.037) 9 % from 1997 to 2003, and POM was greatest (p=0.001) under CSHAA and least under CC. Water stability of soil aggregates increased with an increase in fine POM (R2 = 0.6). Diversified rotations increased efficiency of water and N use by corn. Further, increased rotation diversity and no tillage improved soil attributes that can reduce soil erodibility by wind or water.