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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Morris, Minnesota » Soil Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178203
Title: TILLAGE-INDUCED CO2 LOSS FROM AN ERODED LANDSCAPE IN THE NORTH AMERICAN GREAT PLAINS

Author
item Reicosky, Donald
item Lindstrom, Michael
item SCHUMACHER, THOMAS - SD STATE UNIV.
item LOBB, DAVID - UNIV. OF MANITOBA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2005
Publication Date: 4/29/2005
Citation: Reicosky, D.C., Lindstrom, M.J., Schumacher, T., Lobb, D. 2005. Tillage-induced CO2 loss from an eroded landscape in the North American Great Plains [abstract]. Geophysical Research Abstracts. 7:09922.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil carbon (C) losses and soil translocation from tillage operations have been identified as causes of soil degradation and soil erosion. The objective of this work was to quantify the variability in tillage-induced carbon dioxide (CO2) loss by moldboard (MP) and chisel (CP) plowing across an eroded landscape and relate the C loss to soil properties. The study site was a four-ha wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Marshall) field with rolling topography and five soil types in the Svea-Barnes complex in west central Minnesota (N. Lat. = 45' 41’, W. Long. = 95' 43’). Soil properties were measured at several depths at a 10-m spacing along north-south (N-S) and west-east (W-E) transects through severely eroded, moderately eroded and non-eroded sites. Conventional MP (25 cm deep) and CP (15 cm deep) equipment were used along the pre-marked transects. Gas exchange measurements were obtained with a large, portable chamber within two m of each sample site following tillage. The measured CO2 fluxes were largest with the MP > CP > not tilled (before tillage). The variation in 24-h cumulative CO2 flux from MP was nearly three-fold on the N-S transect and four-fold on the W-E transect. The surface soil organic C on the transects was lowest on the eroded knolls at 5.1 g C kg-1 and increased to 19.6 g C kg-1 in the depositional areas. The lowest CO2 fluxes were measured from severely eroded sites which indicated that the variation in CO2 loss was partially reflected by the degradation of soil properties caused by historic tillage-induced soil translocation with some wind and water erosion. The spatial variation across the rolling landscape complicates the determination of non-point sources of soil C loss and suggests the need for improved conservation tillage methods to maintain soil and air quality in agricultural production systems.