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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #288489

Title: Soil attributes, soybean mineral nutrition and yield in diverse crop rotations under no-till conditions

Author
item RIEDELL, WALTER
item Osborne, Shannon
item PIKUL, JOSEPH - RETIRED ARS EMPLOYEE

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2013
Publication Date: 7/4/2013
Citation: Riedell, W.E., Osborne, S.L., Pikul, J.L. 2013. Soil attributes, soybean mineral nutrition and yield in diverse crop rotations under no-till conditions. Agronomy Journal. 105:1231-1236. doi:10.2134/agronj2013.0037.

Interpretive Summary: Extensive use of sustainable crop and soil management systems would result in profitable farms producing greater yields while maintaining or enhancing natural resources. Development of sustainable agricultural systems depends on understanding complex relationships between soil management, crop management, and crop yield. This study was designed to investigate the impact of extended crop rotations on soil physical and chemical properties and their effect on the growth, yield, and seed composition of soybeans under no-till soil management. Rotation treatments under no-till soil management were established in 1997 and soybean measurements made during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Our data suggest that long-term rotation treatments that contain a diversity of crops affect certain soil attributes as well as impact crop yield. Specifically, our observations indicate that changes in soil physical and chemical properties under extended rotations that include annual and perennial forages may play an important role in improving biomass mineral nutrition levels, increasing grain yield, and enhancing seed components of soybeans grown in those rotations. These data and observations elucidate the complex relationships between soil attributes, crop rotations, and crop yield under long-term rotational treatments and no-till soil management. Results of this study provide knowledge of the complex interactions between soils and crops needed to develop soil and crop management methods that will provide food security for a growing world population in a sustainable manner.

Technical Abstract: Development of sustainable agricultural systems depends on understanding complex relationships between soil attributes, crop rotations, and crop yield. Objectives were to measure how soil chemical and physical attributes as well as soybean (Glycine max Merr.) stover dry weight and mineral concentrations, grain yield, and grain composition (protein, oil, and mineral concentrations) responded to soybean-maize (Zea mays L.) 2-yr rotation (S-C); soybean-spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-maize 3-yr rotation (S-W-C); soybean-oat/pea (Hordeum vulgare L./Pisum sativum L.) hay-maize 3-yr rotation (S-H-C); and soybean-oat/pea hay underseeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-alfalfa-alflafa maize 5-yr rotation (S-H/A-A-A-C). Rotation treatments under no-till soil management were established in 1997 and soybean measurements made during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. Soils under the 5-yr rotation had greater nitrate N concentration than the other rotations and had lower bulk density than S-H-C rotation with S-W-C and S-C intermediate. Soybean grain yield was about 250 kg ha-1 greater in the 5-yr rotation than in the other treatments. Kernel protein was 3% greater and kernel Zn was 11% greater under the 5-yr rotation than under S-C rotation while the others were intermediate. Changes in soil physical and chemical properties under extended rotations that include annual and perennial forages may play an important role in increasing soybean grain yield and enhancing seed composition.