ARS | Publication request: AMISH AND "ENGLISH" AGRICULTURE IN OHIO AND MINNESOTA: IMPACTS ON PEDOCHEMISTRY

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 4, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Understanding the long-term impact of different farming practices on soils is essential to assessing agricultural sustainability. The objective of this study is to compare the morphology and chemistry of soils from neighboring Amish and "English" farms in Ohio and Minnesota. For the purpose of this study, "English" refers to conventional (tractor-based) farming practices, which contrasts with the horse-based farming practices of the Amish. Field methods consisted of collecting and describing four 1-meter deep soil cores per farm from well drained summits having loess-derived Udalfs on 7 Amish and 7 "English" farms. Laboratory analyses included pH, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and DPTA extractable Sr, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Pd. Preliminary data suggests significant differences in morphology and chemical properties result from these two farming practices. Additionally, there are significant differences in soil properties between Ohio and Minnesota.