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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #184715
Title: SOIL CARBON MANAGEMENT IN POST-CRP LANDS

Author
item Tanaka, Donald
item Merrill, Stephen
item Liebig, Mark

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/22/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Tanaka, D.L., Merrill, S.D., Liebig, M.A. 2004. Soil carbon management in post-CRP lands. No. 6535. IN: Annual Meeting Abstracts CD-ROM, October 31-November 4, 2004, Seattle, WA, ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madision, WI

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) was established by Congress to reduce soil erosion on highly erodible cropland, reduce sedimentation, improve water quality, and curb production of surplus commodities. Objectives of our research were to determine impacts of converting land back to agricultural management on soil organic C and N in the northern Great Plains. Treatments were initial haying (hayed and non-hayed), tillage management of residue (conventional-, minimum-, and no-till), and nitrogen fertilizer (0.0-7.5, 7.5-15.0, 15.0-30.0, and 30.0-60.0 cm) were taken prior to initiation of treatments, after three years, and after six years. Residue production was measured for the same time intervals. Crop residue production was not influenced by initial haying but adding 67 kg N/ha, when compared to no fertilizer, increased residue production by about 18, 26, and 27% for the first-three years, second-three years, and total after six years, respectively. No-till increased residue production by about 8% for the total six-year period. Quantity of soil organic C loss in the 0-3 cm depth was 18% for conventional-till and 9% for no-till after the first-three years with no influence from other treatments. After the second three years, soil C loss was the same on all treatments.