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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332580
Title: Soil water infiltration affected by biofuel and grain crop production systems in claypan landscape

Author
item ZAIBON, SYAHARUDIN - University Of Missouri
item ANDERSON, STEPHEN - University Of Missouri
item Kitchen, Newell
item THOMPSON, ALLEN - University Of Missouri
item GANTZER, CLARK - University Of Missouri
item UDAWATTA, R - University Of Missouri
item HARUNA, SAMUEL - Middle Tennessee State University

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The effect of soil management systems on water infiltration is very crucial within claypan landscapes to maximize production as well as minimize environmental risks. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of topsoil thickness on water infiltration in claypan soils for grain and biofuel crop production systems. The study was conducted on the Soil Productivity Assessment for Renewable Energy and Conservation (SPARC) plots at the University of Missouri. Plots were planted with either switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) or a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation. Plots were initially established in 1982 with two levels of topsoil thickness (0 and 37.5 cm) on a Mexico silt loam (Vertic Epiaqualfs). Ponded infiltrometer units were used to measure infiltration rates in 2014 and 2015 under switchgrass, and grain crop management each with two levels of topsoil thickness. Physically-based Parlange and Green and Ampt infiltration models were used to estimate saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and sorptivity (S) parameters. Parlange and Green and Ampt models fit infiltration data well with r^2 values near 0.99. The estimated sorptivity (S) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) values in shallow topsoil thickness (0 cm) were lower than deeper topsoil thickness (37.5 cm) for both years (2014 and 2015). The switchgrass treatment had greater S and Ks values compared with the row crop treatment. Results show that biofuel crop production systems (switchgrass) enhance water infiltration compared with row crop management within claypan soil landscapes.