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Comparison of Subsoils and Surface Soils in the Greenhouse as an Aid in Understanding and Reclaiming Eroded Soils 1
Author(s) -
Smith R. M.,
Pohlman G. G.
Publication year - 1951
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1951.00021962004300060003x
Subject(s) - soil water , supervisor , citation , agricultural experiment station , agriculture , service (business) , west virginia , agronomy , geography , library science , agroforestry , environmental science , archaeology , ecology , political science , biology , business , computer science , law , marketing
HERE are many areas in West Virginia and T throughout eastern United States where erosion has removed all or practically all of the surface soil. Many such areas, if protected, will be covered with native vegetation in a few years time. There are, however, certain soils on which natural revegetation is very slow. Some of these are needed for the production of hay or pasture crops. Information on how to increase rapidly the productivity of these areas is sorely needed. The lower productivity of subsoils as compared to surface soils has been widely recognized. The difference is most notable with grass crops where the low nitrogen supply is undoubtedly a limiting factor. Rost (4) found little difference in yield of legumes on various soil horizons provided they were adequately supplied with phosphorus and potash. He also found that differences in yields of oats on the various layers was largely eliminated by the use of nitrogen fertilizer. In field trials with alfalfa, Rost noted a considerable variation in yield on different subsoils. The variation occurred even though the plots were fertilized with both phosphate and potash. The present study was initiated (1) to determine some of the major nutrient responses of some common subsoils in comparison with surface soils, (2) to determine to what extent natural differences in productivity of subsoils can be eliminated by treatment, and (3) to compare various test crops for use in measuring subsoil differences. This report deals only with the results obtained from pot tests in the greenhouse.