Effects of potato–grain rotations on soil erosion, carbon dynamics and properties of rangeland sandy soils

نویسندگان

  • A. Al-Sheikh
  • K. Barbarick
  • R. Sparks
  • M. Dillon
  • Y. Qian
  • G. Cardon
چکیده

The potential for wind erosion in South Central Colorado is greatest in the spring, especially after harvesting of crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) that leave small amounts of crop residue in the surface after harvest. Therefore it is important to implement best management practices that reduce potential wind erosion and that we understand how cropping systems are impacting soil erosion, carbon dynamics, and properties of rangeland sandy soils. We evaluate the effects of cropping systems on soil physical and chemical properties of rangeland sandy soils. The cropping system included a small grain–potato rotation. An uncultivated rangeland site and three fields that two decades ago were converted from rangeland into cultivated centerpivot-irrigation-sprinkler fields were also sampled. Plant and soil samples were collected in the rangeland area and the three adjacent cultivated sites. The soils at these sites were classified as a Gunbarrel loamy sand (Mixed, frigid Typic Psammaquent). We found that for the rangeland site, soil where brush species were growing exhibited C sequestration and increases in soil organic matter (SOM) while the bare soil areas of the rangeland are losing significant amounts of fine particles, nutrients and soil organic carbon (SOM-C) mainly due to wind erosion. When we compared the cultivated sites to the uncultivated rangeland, we found that the SOM-C and soil organic matter nitrogen (SOM-N) increased with increases in crop residue returned into the soils. Our results showed that even with potato crops, which are high intensity cultivated cropping systems, we can maintain the SOM-C with a rotation of two small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop, or potentially increase the average SOM-C with a rotation of four small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop. Erosion losses of fine silt and clay particles were reduced with the inclusion of small grains. Small grains have the potential to contribute to the conservation of SOM and/or sequester SOM-C and SOM-N for these rangeland systems that have very low C content and that are also losing C from their bare soils areas (40%). Cultivation of these rangelands using rotations with at least two small grain crops can reduce erosion and maintain SOM-C and increasing the number of small grain crops grown successfully in rotation * Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 970 492 7260; fax: +1 970 492 7213. E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] (J.A. Delgado). 1 Former Ph.D. student. 0167-1987/$ – see front matter. Published by Elsevier B.V. doi:10.1016/j.still.2004.09.010 A. Al-Sheikh et al. / Soil & Tillage Research 81 (2005) 227–238 228 above two will potentially contribute to C and N sequestration as SOM and to the sequestration of macroand micro-nutrients. Published by Elsevier B.V.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Effects of Sandy Desertified Land Reclamation on Soil Carbon Sequestration (Key Study: Kerman province)

Desertification leads to decrease in the ecosystem C pool and attendant reduction in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC). Reclamation of sandy land in arid and semi-arid has a high potential to increase carbon sequestration and improving soil quality. Our objective as to examine the changes in the soil carbon sequestration and soil properties of two soil layers (0–20 and 20-50 cm) under two types of recl...

متن کامل

Effect of soil structure breakdown on splash erosion in different soil textures

This study was carried out to investigate the role of soil structure in splash erosion in semi-arid soils. Splash erosion was measured in four soil textures (silty clay loam, sandy clay loam, silt loam and sandy loam) with two soil structure conditions (with natural structure and under aggregate breakdown) using a simulated rainfall with 50 mmh-1 in intensity for 30 min in splash caps with 10-c...

متن کامل

The Effect of Land use and Soil Erosion on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Stock

  Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a principal component in soil quality assessment. Knowledge of SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks are important keys to understand the role of SOC in the global carbon cycle and, as a result, in the mitigation of global greenhouse effects. SOC and TN stocks are functions of the SOC concentration and the bulk density of the soil that are prone to changes, influe...

متن کامل

Comparison of Plant Litter Composition in Three Range Species and its Effects on Soil Fertility (Case Study: North Eastern Islamabad Rangeland, Kermanshah Province, Iran)

Plant litter is an important factor for soil conservation and sustainability that could modify soil chemical properties and increase the plant biomass production. The aim of this research was to compare plant litter chemical composition and its effects on soil properties in three species including Hordeum bulbosum, Poa bulbosa, Bromus tectorum. First, soil samples were taken in the depth of 0-3...

متن کامل

Effect of a long-term cultivation and crop rotations on organic carbon in loess derived soils of Golestan Province, Northern Iran

The effects of 34 years cultivation on organic carbon content of the loess derived soils were studied in Golestan province, northern Iran. Soil organic carbon (SOC) showed significant decrease in most of cases. The minimum and maximum SOC decreases were 4 and 51.14 Mg C ha-1/30 cm for 34 years. In a few cases there was an increase in SOC up to 16.93 Mg C ha-1/30 cm over the period of 34 years i...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره   شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2005