Effect of soil erosion on crop yield in Indiana: Results of a 10 year study

ABSTRACT:

The effect of soil erosion on crop yield is influenced by soil properties, particularly available water capacity and soil depth. This study details completion of a 10 year study of this effect under field conditions on three soils. Crop yield information was gathered to quantify the effect of soil erosion on productivity. Yield data were collected for corn and soybeans in three Indiana counties on three important Indiana Corn Belt soils (Corwin, a fine-loam, mixed, mesic, Typic Argiudoll; Miami, a fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludalf and Morley, a fine, illitic, mesic, Typic Hapludalf). Slight, moderate, and severe erosion phases were used to distinguish differing degrees of erosion. Corn yield reduction was 18% for the Miami soil (significant at the 5% level using Duncans multiple range test), 14% for the Morley soil, and 9% for the Corwin soil when severely eroded sites were compared to slightly eroded sites over the 10-year period of study Soybean yield reduction (significant for all soils at the 5% level using Duncans multiple range test), was 17% for the Miami soil, 24% for the Morley soil, and 20% for the Corwin soil when severely eroded sites were compared to slightly erodedsites over the 10-year period of study.