Conservation practices induce tradeoffs in soil function: Observations from the northern Great Plains. Issue 6 (22nd March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liebig, Mark A.; Acosta‐Martinez, Veronica; Archer, David W.; Halvorson, Jonathan J.; Hendrickson, John R.; Kronberg, Scott L.; Samson‐Liebig, Susan E.; Vetter, Jennifer M.
• Is Part Of: Soil Science Society of America Journal. Volume 86:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 1413
• Page End: 1430
• Publication Date: 2022-03-22
• Subjects: Soils -- United States -- Periodicals; Soil science -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 631.4973
• DOI: 10.1002/saj2.20375
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0361-5995

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past 30 years, agricultural land use in the northern Great Plains has negatively affected soil health and associated ecosystem services through grassland conversion to cropland and a transition away from small‐grain cropping systems to warm‐season crops. Mitigating these effects requires adoption of conservation practices, but information about how conservation practices influence on soil condition and function are needed. This study sought to quantify near‐surface soil responses to crop diversity and intensity, cover crops, and livestock integration under controlled experimental conditions, and land use (dryland cropping vs. perennial agroecosystems) on working farms and ranches, all on a common Haplustoll soil in southcentral North Dakota, USA. Among dryland cropping practices, diverse, continuous cropping led to improvements in soil structure, nutrient supply potential, and biological habitat, but increased soil acidification and soil NO3 –N accumulation. Cover crops had a negligible effect on soil condition and function, while livestock integration on cropland improved nutrient supply potential and biological habitat but impaired water intake into soil. Relative to dryland cropping, soil conditions and functions were consistently improved under perennial agroecosystems. Retention of perennial agroecosystems and adoption of diverse, nutrient‐efficient dryland cropping practices should be prioritized to enhance soil health in the northern Great Plains. Core Ideas: Conservation practices on croplands are needed in the northern Great Plains. Soil assessments were conducted on long‐term experiments and on‐farm research sites. Soil functions under cropland were impaired compared with perennial agroecosystems. Increased crop diversity and intensity improved soil quality indices and grain yield. Cropland conservation practices can create tradeoffs in soil function.