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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #179524
Title: FIELD-SCALE SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL SOIL PROPERTIES IN THE WESTERN CORN BELT.

Author
item GRIGERA, M - UN OF NE/GRAD STUDENT
item DRIJBER, R - U OF NE/ASSC PROF MICRO
item Wienhold, Brian

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Grigera, M.S., Drijber, R., Wienhold, B.J. 2004. Field-scale spatial variability of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties in the western corn belt. Agronomy Abstracts #3368.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soils exhibit spatial variability that complicates management for crop production. Apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) has potential as an inexpensive tool for measuring spatial variability in soil properties. To realize this potential, a better understanding of what soil properties effect ECa is needed. The objective of this study was to identify inherent soil properties in the 0- to 90-cm depth that effect ECa and to assess the effectiveness of using ECa to block sampling sites for studying dynamic soil properties in the 0- to 15-cm depth. The study was conducted under irrigated corn in central Nebraska. Depth of topsoil, C content, and clay content in the 0- to 90-cm depth explained 80% of the variability in ECa readings. ECa readings were also correlated with extractable P, K, and Fe in the 0- to 15-cm depth and with corn dry matter production. Soil organic matter and biological properties were not correlated with ECa. Results suggest that ECa is effective in delineating soils based on properties effecting crop production.