ARS | Publication request: CROPPING INTENSIFICATION IN DRYLAND SYSTEMS IMPROVES SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: REGRESSION RELATIONS

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 20, 2001
Publication Date: July 1, 2002
Citation: Perterson, G.A., Shaver, T.M., Sherrod, L.A., Ahuja, L.R. 2002. Cropping intensification in dryland systems improves soil physical properties: regression relations. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings.

Technical Abstract: Our Dryland agroecosystem project has been in existence since 1986 and we will report on the cumulative effects of cropping systems on soil physical properties. Intensifying cropping systems from wheat-fallow to systems like wheat-corn-fallow, and even continuous cropping, invreased crop residue return to the soil. Increases in surface soil aggregation and effective porosity were linearly related to crop residue and return. We will explore the long-term implications of these findings for dryland agroecosystems.