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Submitted to: Extension Circular
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2014 Publication Date: 10/23/2014 Citation: Mikha, M.M. 2014. Manure usage for remediation of degraded farmland. Extension Circular. 2(4):1. Available: http://www.extension.colostate.edu/SEA/Farm_&_Ranch_Newsletter/2014/Farm_Ranch_October_2014.pdf Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The agricultural practices in the semiarid region of the Great Plains of the United States started in the late 18th and early 19th century as farmers expanded their farming practices into the western part of the country. In addition, annual precipitation, in this region, ranged between 14 to 28 inches with soil types ranging between medium to fine texture. The combination of deep tillage, low precipitation, and fine soil type could lead to serious soil erosion, specifically wind erosion. For crop production, water is the most limiting factor; therefore, the inclusion of fallow periods for several months improved soil water storage for succeeding crops. Nevertheless, during the fallow period, the potential for soil erosion and the soil organic matter (SOM) loss are likely to occur. Management practices such as the usage of organic amendments, as nutrient source, and conservation tillage, such as no-tillage, were found to restore soil quality and productivity of some eroded/degraded crop land. |
