Location: Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research
Project Number: 6082-12630-002-014-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 19, 2025
End Date: Aug 31, 2029
Objective:
This study seeks to expand the influences of tillage and biomass management,, and cover cropping on soil health metrics, including physical, chemical, and biological indices. Improved soil health allows for optimization of agricultural practices which lead to decreases in required inputs (e.g., fertilizer), improved crop performance, resistance to disease and other environmental stressors, and increased yields and farmer profitability. This work will be achieved under the following objectives:
1. Evaluating the impact of conventional and conservation tillage on crop yields, biomass, residue production, and nutrient uptake using various cover crop varieties and blends in conjunction with cotton and soybean row crop rotations.
2. Assess and quantify organic carbon and nitrogen disparities between conventional and conservation tillage practices.
3. Evaluate the influence of conventional and conservation tillage, as well as cover crop rotations on nutrient cycling and nutrient use efficiency.
Approach:
This project will be conducted using long-term field plots established at the Clemson University's Pee Dee Research and Education Center, located in Florence, SC. Comparative analysis will be performed looking at conventional and conservation tillage plots designed in a randomized complete block with split plot treatments (cover crop vs fallow). Row crops, cotton and soybean are rotated annually between the conventional and conservation tillage plots.