RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tillage and fallow effects on selected soil quality characteristics of former conservation reserve program sites
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 126
OP 132
VO 56
IS 2
A1 J.E. Gilley
A1 J.W. Doran
A1 B. Eghball
YR 2001
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/56/2/126.abstract
AB Tillage and fallow have been suggested as management options for converting Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas to cropland. This study was conducted to measure selected soil quality characteristics of fomer CRP sites in Mississippi, Nebraska, and South Dakota that were tilled and then left fallow for 21 or 22 months. Soil samples from depth intervals of 0–7.6 cm and 0–30.5 cm were collected for laboratory assessment of the following soil quality indicators: bulk density, EC, pH, total C, organic C, total N, NO3-N, NH4-N, PO4-P, biomass C, biomass N, anaerobic NH4-N, lab respiration 0–10 days, and lab respiration 10–20 days. When compared to undisturbed CRP, increased NO3-N values on the tillage and fallow plots suggest that under the extreme conditions employed in this study, organic residues were being mineralized. As a result, significant reductions in organic C and total N were found at the 0–7.6 cm depth on each of the fallow plots. Thus, to reduce soil quality degradation, use of minimum-till or no-till management systems may be best suited for CRP areas which are converted to cropland.