Effects of topsoil and subsoil thickness on soil water content and crop production on a disturbed soil

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1981.03615995004500010027x· OSTI ID:6319809

Power, J F; Sandoval, F M; Ries, R E; Merrill, S D

Data which can quantify effects of soil depth upon productivity from controlled experiments are essentially lacking for semiarid regions. In connection with mined land-reclamation research in North Dakota, an experiment was established in which soil was reconstructed by building a wedge with productive subsoil (B and upper C horizon) on top of leveled sodic mine spoils derived from shale. Thickness of the subsoil wedge ranged from 0 to 210 cm. Topsoil (A horizon) was then spread over the subsoil wedge to provide a topsoil either 0, 20, or 60 cm thick. A fourth treatment consisted of mixing subsoil and topsoil within the wedge in a 3:1 ratio (no topsoil on the surface). Four crops - alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), native warm-season grasses (Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua curtipendula), and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) - were grown each year on these plots from 1975 through 1979. Yields of all crops increased as total soil thickness (topsoil plus subsoil) increased to the 90- to 150-cm range. Highest yields equaled or exceeded yields that would be expected in these years on similar undisturbed soil types under good management in the same county. Water was extracted from the upper 30 to 90 cm of spoils when the soil-spoil interface was within 90 cm of the soil surface. Thickness of topsoil had no influence on depth of water extraction. There was no evidence of any accumulation of soil water just above the soil-spoil interface under any situation.

• Research Organization: Northern Great Plains Research Center, Mandan, ND
• OSTI ID: 6319809
• Journal Information: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.; (United States) Vol. 45:1; ISSN SSSJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
041000 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Environmental Aspects
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CHEMISTRY
CROPS
DIMENSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GROUND WATER
GROWTH
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LAND RECLAMATION
MINING
MOISTURE
MONTHLY VARIATIONS
OIL SHALE MINING
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANT GROWTH
PRODUCTIVITY
QUANTITY RATIO
REGIONAL ANALYSIS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SOILS
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
THICKNESS
VARIATIONS
WATER