Soil health responses of circular grass buffer strips in center‐pivot irrigated agriculture

Abstract Decline in water table the Ogallala Aquifer, along with soil degradation, has threatened sustainability of agriculture US High Plains region. Circular grass buffers center pivot irrigated cropping systems could support sustainable crop production by providing multiple ecosystem services. This study evaluated organic matter (SOM), nutrients, and other selected health indicators under circular buffer strip grasses (BSG), adjacent corn ( Zea mays L.) (BSC), continuous conventional (CCC) 0–80 cm profile. Soil samples were collected from strips for 5 years (2017–2021) analyzed nitrate N (NO 3 − ‐N), pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, SOM, nutrients. The NO ‐N CCC 0–20 (18.4 mg kg −1 ) 60–80 (4.97 1.56 1.96 times higher than BSC. was significantly lower BSG treatments cm, 20–40, 40–60 depths. SOM similar among all treatments. Response nutrients varied inter‐annually. pH depth 0.1 0.3 units (pH = 7.7) BSC BSG. conductivity 37.5% 25% greater (0.24 0.24 dS m 20–40 depths, respectively. Grass maintaining despite no irrigation, less residual buffer, rapid changes suggest potential to maintain semi‐arid facing transition dryland.