MASS BALANCES AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CARBON, NITROGEN, AND PHOSPOROUS POOLS IN HIGH ALTITUDE COARSER SANDY SOIL

Authors: AL-SHEIKH - CSU; Delgado, Jorge; BARBARICK, K - CSU; SPARKS, R - USDA-NRCS, ALAMOSA, CO; BOWMAN, R - RETIRED; CARDON, G - CSU; QIAN, Y - CSU

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2003
Publication Date: 11/2/2003
Citation: Al-Sheikh, Delgado, J.A., Barbarick, K., Sparks, R., Bowman, R., Cardon, G., Qian, Y. 2003. Mass balances and relationships between carbon, nitrogen, and phosporous pools in high altitude coarser sandy soil. American Society of Agronomy Abstracts. 95. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: We conducted studies to monitor the effect of cropping systems in C, N and P pools for rangeland and cultivated sites of South Central Colorado. The total amount of crop residue organic carbon (CROC) returned after two decades of cultivation was 15,741 kg C ha-1 for the potato:winter cover crop:potato (C1); 16,017 kg C ha-1 for potato:small grain (C2); 39,324 kg C ha-1 for the potato:small grain, all straw returned (C3); and 64,605 kg C ha-1 for the potato:small grain:small grain, all straw returned (C4). The Soil organic carbon (SOC) was 12,469, 8,267, 10,994, 12,183, and 14,560 kg C ha-1 for the range, C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively. Total N was 1547, 1119, 1481, 1812, and 1902 kg N ha-1, for the range, C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively. Total P was 52, 125, 81, 168, and 225 kg P ha-1 for the range, C1, C2, C3 and C4, respectively. Crop residue management has the potential to be used as a carbon sequestration tool for this region to increase SOC, protect soil quality and increase nutrient cycling.