Effects of erosion on soil chemical properties in the north central region of the United States

L.J. Cihacek; J.B. Swan

ABSTRACT:

The productive capacity of a soil is often related to the chemical properties inherent in that soil. Erosion removes topsoil and exposes subsoil thereby changing the characteristic productivity of soils. An eight-state cooperative research project studied 15 soils subjected to varying degrees of natural or artificial erosion. Selected chemical properties for slightly, moderately, or severely eroded soils are reported for the Ap horizon for these soils and for depth to CaCO₃ accumulation and NO₃-N accumulation in the upper profile. For most soils, erosion resulted in increases in pH and exchangeable Ca⁺⁺ and K⁺. Decreases were noted in organic carbon, depth to CaCO₃ accumulation, profile NO₃-N extractable P, CEC, and DTPA extractable-Zn, Fe and Mn. Mixed results were observed for base saturation, exchangeable Mg⁺⁺ and Na⁺, and extractable K⁺.

Footnotes

L.J. Cihacek is an associate professor, Soil Science Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND and J.B. Swan is professor, formerly, Department of Soil Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN-currently Agronomy Department, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Journal Article No. 2153. Contribution of North Dakota State University Ag. Exp. Stn. and experiment stations participating in NC-174 (Soil Erosion and Productivity) Regional Research Committee.
Copyright 1994 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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