ARS | Publication request: PATTERNS IN SOIL CHARACTERISTICS AND DRYLAND SPRING WHEAT BIOMASS WITHIN A SOIL MAPPING UNIT.

Submitted to: Agronomy Technical Report
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 9, 1994
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Soil characteristics which may influence primary productivity and environmental quality vary spatially within a "uniform" soil map unit. Spatial analysis was structured to evaluate plant bio-indicators of spatially variable soil hydraulic and profile characterisitics on fine, mont. mesic Ustollic Haplargids over a 2.8 ha field planted to dryland spring wheat near Fort Collins, CO. Site classification based on cluster analysis of profile distribution of spring H2O and sprin NO3-N; Ap depth; and available P and soil organic matter in the surface horizon accounted for 50% of the variation in wheat biomass. Field areas of high productivity produced approximately 150% of the biomass relative to the low productivity areas. Site classification base on pre-plant soil profile characteristics exhibit predictive capacity for primary productivity, extending the conceptual tools for landscape analysis.