Relating soil physical properties to other soil properties and crop yields

Abstract

Soil physical properties can be related to other soil properties and crop yields, but their evaluations as soil health indicators relating to extensive soil properties and long-term crop yields need further exploration. We evaluated the long-term (14 and 36 year) effect of cropping systems and N fertilizations on selected soil physical properties and related them to 66 soil physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical properties and mean crop yields across years at two dryland farming sites in the semiarid region of the northern Great Plains, USA. Treatments were rotations of no-tillage and conventional tillage spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and fallow with or without N fertilization. Soil samples collected in April 2019 were analyzed for physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical properties and mean crop yields were determined. The average slake aggregate (ASA), wet aggregate stability index (WASI), and intact core available water holding capacity (IAWHC) were associated with most soil physical, chemical, biological, and biochemical properties and clay concentration was associated with nutrient concentrations. These parameters were also better related to mean crop yields across years than other soil physical properties. Because of the enhanced relationship with soil properties and crop yields and simple and inexpensive measurement, ASA can be used as a potential soil health indicator in dryland cropping systems in semiarid regions.

The Study of Soil Physical Properties of the Rice-dominated Cropping Area of Tangi Choudwar

“…Bulk density showed a negative correlation with the clay content [13]. A similar correlation ship (r) between clay content (Clay), average slake aggregate (ASA), wet aggregate stability index (WASI), bulk density (BD), and intact core available water holding capacity (IAWHC) was reported [14].…”

Soil Physical Properties as Influence by Poultry and Cow Dung from Different Housing and Stacking Types Following Telfairia occidentalis (Hook F.) Production

“…The post planting soil physical properties were observed to be improved by the application of amendments [7]. Soil physical properties contribute to water and nutrient activities, soil temperature, aeration, nutrient cycling, and root growth which affect yield of crops [8,9]. Soil provides the necessary nutrients, oxygen, water and root support that the plants need to develop and thrive [10].…”

Does Increasing the Diversity of Small Grain Cropping Systems Improve Aggregate Stability and Soil Hydraulic Properties?

“…The average annual temperature is 8 • C and average annual precipitation is 340 mm at this location [33]. The average sand, silt, and clay contents were 35, 32.5, and 32.5 percent, respectively; soil pH was 6.1 in the 0-20 cm depth; soil organic carbon was 12.5 g kg −1 and bulk density was 1.25 g cm −3 in the 0-15 cm depth prior to study initiation [32,33]. This study was initiated during fall of 2013 with four replications in a randomized block design.…”

“…This study was established on a field that was previously under continuous spring wheat and spring wheat-safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cropping systems with no tillage [32]. The average annual temperature is 8 • C and average annual precipitation is 340 mm at this location [33]. The average sand, silt, and clay contents were 35, 32.5, and 32.5 percent, respectively; soil pH was 6.1 in the 0-20 cm depth; soil organic carbon was 12.5 g kg −1 and bulk density was 1.25 g cm −3 in the 0-15 cm depth prior to study initiation [32,33].…”