ABSTRACT:
A study was started in 1984 to examine erosion-productivity relationships on representative soils from the North Central United States. The project was designed to minimize the effects of landscape position and agronomic practices on data interpretation. Soil, climate, and agronomic data were collected according to standardized procedures on replicated erosion classes located in similar landscapes. Relative yield loss for erosion class 3 averaged 17 percent on glacial-till derived soils and 8 percent on loess derived soils during the study period. Growing season precipitation and productivity index (PI) gave the best fitting regression model for yield in the glacial-till derived soils (R2 = 0.61). On loess derived soils, addition of other variables to the regression equation did not greatly improve the R2 obtained from using growing season precipitation as the only predictor (R2 = 0.29).
Footnotes
Tom E. Schumacher is a professor, Department of Plant Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, 57007; Michael J. Lindstrom is a soil scientist, North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Morris, MN 56267; Delbert Mokma is a professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824; and Wallace W. Nelson is a former superintendent, Southwestern Experiment Station, University of Minnesota, Lamberton, 56152. This paper is a joint contribution of the South Dakota Experiment Station, Scientific Journal Series #2641 in cooperation with the North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA. Supported in part by Cooperative Regional Research Funds NC-174, Soil Productivity and Erosion. This paper includes data, input, and helpful suggestions from Ken Olson, University of Illinois; Alice Jones, University of Nebraska; Birl Lowery, University of Wisconsin; James Swan, Iowa State University; and Gary Lemme, University of Minnesota. We also acknowledge the input of other past and present members on the NC-174 committee who have contributed to the development of this project.
- Copyright 1994 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
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