HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boehm, M. M. Articles by Anderson, D. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Boehm, M. M. Articles by Anderson, D. W. Agricola Articles by Boehm, M. M. Articles by Anderson, D. W.

A Landscape-Scale Study of Soil Quality in Three Prairie Farming Systems

Deparrtment of Soil Science, Univ. of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Dr., Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5A8

*Corresponding author (boehm{at}digger.usask.ca).

ABSTRACT

The relationship between farming practices and the quality or function of agricultural soils is difficult to characterize because of the complexity of soils and spatial variability within the landscape. This study in Saskatchewan, Canada, tested the hypothesis that soil quality differed among farming systems that varied in fallow intensity (crop-fallow [fallow every second year], extended rotation [fallow every 3–5 yr], and continuous cropping [no fallow]) and that differences could be assessed using soil properties as indicators of soil quality. In 20 fields with coarse to fine loamy, glaciolacustrine soils (Typic Haploborolls), major landform elements were sampled. As years of continuous cropping and related fertilizer inputs increased, increases in organic C (by weight [C_w] 22%, by volume [C_v] 3%), aggregate size (24%) and stability (45%), microbial biomass (50%), resin-sorbed N (503%) and P (227%), and nitrification potential (25%), decreases in bulk density (8%) and infiltration time (19%), and greater solum thickness (26%) were measured. We postulate that the changes in soil properties indicate an improvement in soil quality under the continuous cropping system and that the observed changes were caused by more frequent additions of crop residues (organic C), especially near the soil surface, which resulted in lower bulk density, more microbial biomass, and greater soil aggregation. It seems that the annual inputs of crop residues in conjunction with nutrients, such as N and P, resulted in the formation of an active and labile soil organic matter, increased availability of soil N and P, and a comparatively large pool of microbial C.

Received for publication May 10, 1996.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. R. Lilburne, A. E. Hewitt, G. P. Sparling, and N. Selvarajah Soil Quality in New Zealand: Policy and the Science Response J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2002; 31(6): 1768 - 1773. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Sparling and L. A. Schipper Soil Quality at a National Scale in New Zealand J. Environ. Qual., November 1, 2002; 31(6): 1848 - 1857. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Carter Soil Quality for Sustainable Land Management: Organic Matter and Aggregation Interactions that Maintain Soil Functions Agron. J., January 1, 2002; 94(1): 38 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.A. Schipper and G.P. Sparling Performance of Soil Condition Indicators Across Taxonomic Groups and Land Uses Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., January 1, 2000; 64(1): 300 - 311. [Abstract] [Full Text]