TY - JOUR T1 - Effects of soil erosion on corn yields on Marlette soils in south-central Michigan JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 325 LP - 327 VL - 47 IS - 4 AU - D. L. Mokma AU - M. A. Sietz Y1 - 1992/07/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/47/4/325.abstract N2 - A study was conducted to compare soil properties of slight, moderate, and severe erosion phases and to determine the effect of past erosion on corn grain yield. The study was located on Marlette fine sandy loam fine-loamy, mixed, mesic, Glossoboric Hapludalf) near East Lansing, Michigan. Solum thickness decreased from 135 cm to 56 cm (53 to 22 inches) with increasing degrees of erosion. Clay content, bulk density, soil pH, and cation exchange capacity of the Ap horizon increased, while organic carbon decreased with increasing erosion. Corn yield averages for severely eroded plots were 21% less than those from the slightly eroded plots, averaged over the 5-year period. Yield reductions ranged from 6% in 1989 to 48% in 1988 when May and June were droughty. Corn maturity was slightly delayed by increased erosion. Stand counts of severely eroded plots were significantly less than those of the slightly eroded plots. Yield reductions probably resulted from a soil moisture shortage. The severely eroded soils were classified into a different subgroup than the slight and moderately eroded soils. ER -