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Organic Matter Decomposition and Plant Nutrient Release from Incorporations of Soybean Hay and Wheat Straw in a Holston Sandy Loam in Outdoor Lysimeters
Author(s) -
Shaw W. M.,
Robinson Brooks
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1960.03615995002400010023x
Subject(s) - loam , lysimeter , agronomy , organic matter , leaching (pedology) , hay , straw , nutrient , environmental science , soil organic matter , chemistry , soil water , soil science , biology , organic chemistry
An acid Holston sandy loam, unlimed and limed to 60 and 100% base saturation, without organic matter and with soybean hay and wheat straw was placed in 1/20,000‐acre outdoor lysimeters which were exposed to weather and kept free of vegetation for a period of 3 years. Soil samples were taken at the end of each year and analyzed for organic matter and total N content. The leachates were analyzed for the annual outgo of Ca, Mg, K, S, N, and soluble organic matter. A 2% soybean hay incorporation in a Holston sandy loam after a 3‐year exposure to weather and leaching has resulted in a net gain to the soil in percentages of the additives: 20% of organic carbon, 40 to 60% of N, and about 70% of the mineral nutrients. The soybean hay treatment resulted in a 10% increase in cation‐exchange capacity of the soil. A shallow incorporation of the soybean hay (4 inches) resulted in a 50% greater retention, and a smaller (1/3) loss by volatilization of the nutrient N as compared to full‐depth incorporation.