View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by UNL | Libraries University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications Biological Systems Engineering 5-1997 Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site John E. Gilley University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] J. W. Doran United States Department of Agriculture Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub Part of the Biological Engineering Commons Gilley, John E. and Doran, J. W., "Tillage Effects on Soil Erosion Potential and Soil Quality of a Former Conservation Reserve Program Site" (1997). Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications. 138. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/138 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Systems Engineering at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Gilley & Doran in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 52 (1997) RES EAR C H Tillage effects on soil erosion advantages. Detailed information on the effects of grass sod on soil properties and potential and soil quality of a crop productivity at Big Spring, Texas was provided by Zobeck et a1. (1995). In the former Conservation Reserve southeastern United States, sod crops Progral11 site planted in sequence with row crops have been found to increase crop yields , pro­ vide more efficient use of water and fertil­ J.E. Gilley and J.W. Doran izer, and reduce runoff and erosion (Ben­ net et al. 1976; Carrel王eretal. 1977; Harper et al. 1980; Belesky et al. 1981; ABSTRACT: This stu吵 W出condu仰d to determine the φωoftillage on soiμrosion potential Wilkinson et al. 1987). No-till corn and soil qualiσcharacteristics ofa former Conservation Research Program (CRl引site. Following planted in sod produces excellent yields tillage， 加stu吵area in Northern Mississippi u刷 刷intained in a fallow condition for 仰le when nutrient and water requirements are months. Soilloss from simulated rainfall e仰的was mz仰nalon recen吵tilledplots and an ad­ met (Moody et al. 1963; Jones et al. joining, undisturbed CRP area. In contra.矶soil lossfrom 伽former CRP site which had been 1969; Carreker et al. 1973; Box et al. tilled nine months previously was similar to values obtained bφre the CRP program when the 1976,1980). area had been cropped for several years. Tillage and over-winter fallowing caused a degradation Corn yields are greatest the first year in soil quality resulting from the decomposition ofbiological nutrient reserves. The conservation after sod , and then decline with each suc­ and soil qua句ben侨ts derived 斤。m the CRP may rapidly decline once an area is tilled and ceeding year of corn production (Parks et 伽1 left fallow during 伽non仰'Ppedperio d. al. 1969; and Giddens et al. 1971). Elkins et al. (1979, 1983) concluded that accept­ able corn yields could be obtained while Thc CRPwas ini让itiaω叫la in the Great Plains has also resulted in sig­ maintaining a living grass mulch. Herbi­ ronmη1enta址II忖y fragile areas from 口ropc pro­ nificant increases in soil organic carbon cide application rates , vigor of the grass duction. Approximately 14.8 million (Gebhart et al. 1994). Because the CRP stand, and climatic factors all contribute hectares (仔3 6 . 5 million acres) of cropland was established to help stabilize highly to the success of intercropping manage­ were em口ro刀叶0 11忙ed in this progr阳amη1 (Taylor et a1. erodible soils, returning these areas to ment systems. 1994). To participate in the CR p, producers crop production could have detrimental A field recently plowed out of meadow were required to convert cropland to vegeta­ effects on long-term soil productivity is initially much less erodible than one tive cover for a 1a-year period. The princi­ (Young and Osborn 1990). As CRP lands which has been continuously tilled. The pal objectives of the CRP were to reduce become eligible for release, many land fine root network and improved soil erosion on highly erodible cropland, de­ managers who return their land to crop structure from meadows serve to maintain crease sedimentation, improve water quality, production will be concerned about high infiltration rates and protect the soil foster wildlife habitat , curb the production adopting procedures that will help to against erosive forces (Foster 1982). In of surplus commodities, and provide in­ maintain conservation benefits derived general, the erosion-reducing effectiveness come support for farmers (Young and Os­ during the CRP. of sod is directly proportional to vegeta­ born 1990). Management systems that include sod tive dry matter production (Wischmeier Soil structure has been found to im­ have many environmental and production and Smith 1978). The objective of this prove when continuously cultivated land is put into grass (Lindstrom et al. 1994). The perennial grass cover established Interpretive summary under the CRP at selected locations with- I E. Gilley is an agricultural engineer and I W Doran is a soilscientistwith USDA-ARS locatedat over-winter fallow condition for nine months. Soil loss from simulated rainfall events the Univers句ofNebraska, Lincol刀， ， 68583 . was minimal on 阳 This articleis a contributionfrom USDA-ARS tra时 in cooperation with the Agricultural Research Di­ vision, University ofNebraska , Lincol刀 ， and is published asJournal Series No. 11311 The authors wish to express their sincere appre­ 句 benefits derived from the CRP ciation to WS. Taylor乒r his cooperation and assis­ tal附in conducting 的zs stu 今 Key words: conselVation, erosion， 始 j. Soiland Water Cons. 52 β') 184-188 184 JOURNAL OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVA丁ION Gilley & Doran in Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 52 (1997) study was to measure the effects of tillage the CRP in the fall of 1988. Following six between the experimental treatments. on soil erosion potential and soil quality years in the CRp, one area on the study Tests were run at the 5% confidence level characteristics of a former CRP site in sight was disked on September 1 雪 ， 1994, (户= 0.05). Northern Mississippi. and an adjoining area was disked on June Soil quality characteristics. The basic Procedures 15, 1995. Each time the areas were disked indicators of soil quality as described by several times to simulate conditions need­ Doran and Parkin (1994) were used in Stu功， area. The study site was located ed in preparing CRP for crop production. 1995 to evaluate the three management approximately 6 km (4 miles) east of The area disked in 1994 was maintained treatments. Soil samples from the 0-30.5 Como, Mississippi. A Grenada (fine-silty, 仕ee of vegetation by application of herbi­ cm (0-12.0 in) soillayer were obtained for mixed, thermic Glossic Fragiudalf) silt cide and then disked again immediately soil characterization and laboratory assess­ loam soil with a sand, silt, and clay con­ before the rainfall simulation tests. Begin­ ments of soil quality by compositing 自ve tent of 9, 65 , and 26%, respectivel严was ning on June 16, 1995 , rainfall simulation randomly sampled 1.9 cm (0.75 in) diam­ located at the study site. The Grenada se­ tests were again performed at study loca­ eter cores for three replicate areas of each ries consists of moderately well drained tions, including an adjacent undisturbed experimental treatment. Soil sampling soils that have a fragipan. These soils CRP site which was designated as UN. sites which were replicated by upper, mid­ formed in loessal material on uplands and The experimental treatments on which dIe, and lower slope positions were imme­ terraces. simulation tests were conducted four days diately adjacent to or within (1995 tillage Annual precipitation at the study area and nine months following tillage were treatment only) the areas where rainfall averages 1450 mm (57.1 in). The fre­ designated as FD and NM, respecti飞r el y. simulations were conducted. Samples quency of a 64 mm (2.5 in) rainfall of Tilling a former CRP area and then were stored under ice in an insulated chest one-hour duration is once every 10 years keeping it free of vegetation for nine for transport to the laboratory for process­ (Hershfield, 196 1), while a 50 mm (2.0 months created a condition that was opti­ ing within 48 hours after collection. in) rainfall of one-hour duration occurs mum for soil erosion. After CRP con­ Moist soil samples were passed through a every 3 to 4 years. A 25 mm (1.0 in) rain­ tracts expire , many producers are expected 4.75 mm (0.187 in) sieve for analyses of fall of one-half hour duration has a one to till their land in the fall and then keep microbial biomass C and N by the chlo­ year recurrence interval. Mean annual it in a fallow condition until a crop is roform fumigation/incubation procedure temperature is 16°C (60°F) which ranges planted the following spring. The rainfall or for mineralizable N by the anaerobic from 1acC (49°F) in January to 33°C simulation tests conducted in 1988 were incubation method. Samples were passed (91°F) in July. The average frost-free performed on a site that had been main­ through a 2 mm (0.08 in) sieve for analy­ growing season is 205 days , extending tained in a bare , fallow condition. There­ sis of 2N KCL extractable mineral N from April to October. fore , similar site preparation procedures (NO.') and NH4), total C and N by dry Soil erosion potential. Prior to initial were used in 1995 in order to allow com­ combustion, Bray-l extractable P, and par­ evaluations, the area had been cropped for parisons in soilloss with the earlier tests. tide size analysis by the hydrometer several years.