No abstract

Corn {Zea mays L.) residue is being considered as a feedstock for biofuels production. The impact of removing corn residue on soil productivity is not well understood. A corn-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation was established in 2000 to determine the effect of removing corn residue at three rates (37, 55, and 98%) on soil organic carbon (SOC) in the 0-to 5-cm layer of soil after 8 yr. The effect of cover crops {slender wheatgrass [Agropyron caninum (L.) Beauv.] In corn and lentil {Lens culinaris Medik. variety Morton) in soybeans} on SOC was also measured. As the rate of residue removal increased, soil organic matter (SOM), wet aggregate stability (WAS), C/N, and microbial activity decreased significantly. Although the effect was not significant, there was a decrease in SOC as the rate of removal increased. At the high residue removal rate, SOM analyzed by quantitative ^^C NMR contained an abundance of aromatic C structures, suggesting that less humified pools of soil C are not being replenished. The humin fraction of the soil had a reduction in SOC under the medium and high rates of residue removal without a cover crop and is likely beginning to be depleted. Bradford-reactive soil protein and immunoreactive soil protein were higher in soils with cover crops, likely due to increased plant diversity and extending the growing season to allocate more C belowground. Overall, the data suggest that the soil properties indicative of soil quality are negatively impacted by removal of corn residue.

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Tillage has been associated with soil organic matter (SOM) decline. A case study of two adjacent farms was conducted in eastern South Dakota. One farm used no‐till (NT) and the other used chisel tillage (CT). We hypothesized that soil under NT, compared with tillage, would have both greater quantity and greater quality of SOM and that this improved SOM condition would result in increased water stable aggregation (WSA). A rotary sieve was used to sort dry field aggregates into six size groups: <0.4, 0.4 to 0.8, 0.8 to 2.0, 2.0 to 6.0, 6.0 to 19.0, and >19 mm. Water stable aggregation, soil organic C (SOC), N, glomalin, and basidiomycete fungi were measured. Fine particulate soil organic matter (fPOM, 0.5–0.053 mm) and coarse particulate organic matter (2.0–0.5 mm) were isolated by sieving. Quantitative solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance was used to determine C type in humic acid, humin, and whole soil. The fPOM/SOM ratio was greatest in <0.4‐mm aggregates and 24% greater in NT than CT. Soil organic C was greatest in 0.8‐ to 2.0‐mm aggregates and 11% greater in NT than CT. Average WSA was 63% greater under NT than under CT. Aggregate wettability was less under NT than CT. Slower water uptake under NT might be attributed to a greater abundance of wax‐type C under NT than under CT. We conclude that NT, compared with CT, resulted in better SOM quality during the course of 10 yr. Improved SOM quality was related to improved WSA.

No abstract