Fertility and tilth effects of fuel-crop-residue removal. Final report, April 1, 1979-December 31, 1981

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:5297444

Karlen, D L; Hunt, P G; Campbell, R B

Research objectives were to determine the effects of crop residue removal on chemical, physical, and biological properties of a Norfolk loamy sand (Typic Paleudult) when utilizing conservation tillage with or without supplemental irrigation and to measure crop and residue production, nutrient removal in the vegetation, baseline and early changes in soil physical and chemical properties. A large-scale field experiment was established on a Norfolk loamy sand to evaluate the effects of irrigation, tillage, and residue removal on crop production, and soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. The production parameters evaluated were the corn grain yield and the amount of stover which could be produced by various corn hybrids. The amount of biomass obtained by harvesting a winter rye cover crop in the vegetative stage before planting corn was also determined. The nutrient composition of the residue and the nutrient status of the crops were also measured. Field measurements of soil strength, soil water status, and surface cover were made. Measurements were also initiated to evaluate the influence of tillage and residue removal on the nematode population. The corn grain yields and amount of crop residue are summarized. In summary, the information gathered between 1979 and 1981 has shown no adverse short-term effects on soil physical, chemical, or biological properties caused by harvesting crop residues from a Norfolk loamy sand in MLRA 133. Implementing these management practices into an on-going production system will require changes in the traditional management practices and close monitoring of factors such as plant stands, water utilization, and the fertility program. The long-term effects of such management cannot be projected from the limited amount of data collected at this time.

• Research Organization: Department of Agriculture, Florence, SC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI05-79OR20306
• OSTI ID: 5297444
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR/20306-T1; ON: DE82018073
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

553000* -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
BASELINE ECOLOGY
CEREALS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CROPS
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FERTILITY
FIELD TESTS
GRAMINEAE
GRASS
HARVESTING
IRRIGATION
MAIZE
MANAGEMENT
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC WASTES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
REMOVAL
RESIDUES
SAND
SOILS
TESTING
WASTES
YIELDS