Nitrogen rate, cover crop, and tillage practice alter soil chemical properties

Edwin L. Ritchey, Donald D. Tyler, Michael E. Essington, Michael D. Mullen, Arnold M. Saxton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Long-term management practices can influence many physical and chemical soil properties. Th is study investigated the influence of 14 yr of continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) management systems on soil pH, soil organic C (SOC), and exchangeable cations. Management practices consisted of varying N rate, tillage (no-tillage [NT] or disk tillage [DT]), and cover crop on a Lexington silt loam soil (Ultic Hapludalf) in the absence of lime additions. Lower soil pH was present in NT, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.) cover treatments and with increasing N rate but similar between 0- to 7.5- and 0- to 15-cm sample depths. Soil pH decreased between 0.23 to 0.37 units for each 34 kg N ha–1 added and 0.46 units with hairy vetch cover. Hairy vetch cover and 101 kg N ha–1 resulted in pH <5 and increased SOC and exchangeable Mn. Exchangeable Al values were >0.30 cmolc kg–1 with 101 kg N ha–1 and hairy vetch cover and with 101 kg N ha–1 under NT, but they were £0.13 cmolc kg–1 for all other treatments. Exchangeable Al increased at pH <5 for NT with hairy vetch cover, while changes were insignificant for all other treatments. the hairy vetch cover contributed acidity equivalent to 42 to 68 kg N ha–1 as NH4NO3. Although stratification of SOC occurred under NT, no other measured properties varied with depth in NT treatments, and different recommendations are not necessary for NT crop production. Appropriate N credits from hairy vetch cover will reduce excessive acidity, production costs, and potential environmental concerns.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1259-1268
Number of pages10
JournalAgronomy Journal
Volume107
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 6 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Agronomy and Crop Science

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