Open AccessChanges in soil chemical properties and crop yields with long‐term cropping system and nitrogen fertilization
Author(s) -
Sainju Upendra M.,
Alasinrin Sikiru Y.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
agrosystems, geosciences and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-6696
DOI - 10.1002/agg2.20019
Subject(s) - agronomy , hordeum vulgare , tillage , cropping system , crop rotation , sativum , environmental science , human fertilization , crop , chemistry , poaceae , biology
Information is needed on the long‐term impact of cropping system and N fertilization on dryland soil health and crop yields. We studied the 13‐yr effect of cropping system and N fertilization rate on soil chemical properties at the 0‐ to 60‐cm depth and related them to annualized crop yield in the northern Great Plains. Cropping systems were conventional tillage barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.)/spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L)–fallow (CTB/WF), no‐tillage barley/spring wheat–fallow (NTB/WF), no‐tillage barley/spring wheat–pea ( Pisum sativum L) (NTB/WP), and no‐tillage continuous barley/spring wheat (NTCB/W). Nitrogen fertilization rates were 0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha −1 to barley planted from 2006 to 2011 and 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha −1 to spring wheat planted from 2012 to 2018. At 0 to 5 cm, soil pH and CEC were greater with NTB/WP than NTCB/W and CTB/WF, and soil organic matter (SOM) and Olsen‐P were greater with NTCB/W than CTB/WF. Increased N rate reduced soil pH, K, Ca, Mg, and CEC at most soil depths. Annualized crop yield was greater with NTCB/W and NTB/WP than NTB/WF and CTB/WF and maximized at 80–100 kg N ha −1 . Most soil chemical properties induced by N fertilization were negatively correlated, but Mg concentration at 30–60 cm induced by cropping system was positively correlated with annualized crop yield. No‐till barley/spring wheat–pea rotation with 80–100 kg N ha −1 can sustain dryland soil chemical properties and barley and spring wheat yields in the northern Great Plains.