Does 20 Years of Tillage and N Fertilization Influence Properties of a Claypan Soil in the Eastern Great Plains?

Abstract

Core Ideas Claypan soil properties were minimally affected by tillage and N fertilization after 20 years. Soil organic matter distribution was affected by tillage, but with no apparent net difference. Long‐term tillage and N fertilization did not affect soil bulk density or penetration resistance. Subtle long‐term soil changes may not influence producer choices for tillage and N fertilization. Tillage and nitrogen (N) fertilization systems may affect soil chemical and physical properties, especially long term. This study's objective was to examine the effect of three tillage systems (conventional tillage, reduced tillage, and no‐till) with four N fertilizer treatments on properties of a claypan soil in the eastern Great Plains after 20 yr of cropping. Soil chemical and physical properties were little affected by long‐term tillage and N fertilization. The lack of tillage to distribute soil phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) nutrients within no‐till treatments resulted in lower P and K values below the surface. In no‐till, the accumulation of organic matter in the surface soil (0 to 7.5 cm) was countered by lower organic matter in the 7.5‐ to 15 ‐cm zone, resulting in no net increase compared with the other two tillage systems. Soil bulk density and penetration resistance in the surface 30 cm were unaffected by tillage or N fertilization.

Changes in soil chemical properties and crop yields with long‐term cropping system and nitrogen fertilization

“…Similarly, our results contradicted to those obtained by Tarkalson et al. (2006) and Sweeney (2017) who found that no‐tillage reduced K concentration compared with conventional tillage after 20–27 yr. Averaged across cropping systems, K concentration at 0–5 cm decreased nonlinearly with increased N rate (Figure 3a).…”

“…Our results are in contrast to those observed by Hammoc et al (2016) who reported that crop rotation increased K concentration compared with monocropping after 16 yr. Similarly, our results contradicted to those obtained by Tarkalson et al (2006) and Sweeney (2017) who found that no-tillage reduced K concentration compared with conventional tillage after 20-27 yr. Averaged across cropping systems, K concentration at 0-5 cm decreased nonlinearly with increased N rate (Figure 3a).…”

“…It is likely that increased root growth due to N fertilization may have taken up immobile P, thereby reducing Olsen-P with increased N rate. Sweeney (2017) reported that N fertilization to crops for 20 yr decreased Bray-P concentration from 7.5-15.0 cm compared with no N fertilization.…”

“…(2008) observed that no‐tillage reduced soil pH, but increased SOM and Mg concentration compared with conventional tillage after 32 yr in Iowa. Sweeney (2017) reported that soil Bray‐P and K concentrations at 7.5–15.0 cm were lower with no‐tillage than conventional tillage, but SOM at 0–15 cm was not affected by tillage after 20 yr in the eastern Great Plains. In contrast, no‐tillage increased soil Bray‐P and CEC, but reduced K, Ca, base saturation, and pH at 0–5 cm compared with conventional tillage after 27 yr in Nebraska (Tarkalson, Hergert, & Cassman, 2006).…”

Сільськогосподарське Районування Харківської Області: Географічна Проблема – Екологічні Наслідки

“…Проте ринкова економіка лише поглибила «прірву» між спеціалізацією сільського господарства і наявними можливостями агроландшафтів Orozco-Ramírez Q., Astier M., Barrasa S., 2017). Сучасне відновлення інтересу до вказаної проблематики (або початок другого періоду) зумовлене, передусім, екологічною некоректністю моделі «зеленої революції», слідування якій впродовж останніх 30 років сьогодні дається взнаки і має прояв, головно, у небезпечній динаміці зниження вмісту гумусу у ґрунтах (Sweeney, 2017;Petrychenko, Zaryshnjak, Baljuk, Polupan, Velychko, Solovej, 2013;.…”