Year: 1997
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Irrigation induced erosion and land leveling have reduced\nyields on about 2 million acres in south central Idaho. Previous\nattempts to restore productivity on eroded silt loam soils to that\nof the original top soil have not been successful. This long term\nstudy was conducted to find a method(s) that would restore the\nproductivity of exposed subsoils to that of topsoils and to\ndetermine the factor(s) limiting subsoil productivity. This study\nwas initiated by removing the surface 12 inches of topsoil in\nstrips between undisturbed strips of Portneuf silt loam (coarse-silty,\nmixed, mesic, Durixerollic Calciorthid) topsoil. Different\ncrop rotations were established along the strips and fertilizer\ntreatments were applied across the strips. Fertilizer treatments\nwere applied the first year and were, conventional fertilizer\napplied according to soil tests, a heavy fresh dairy manure\napplication and two cottage cheese (acid) whey rates. Dry edible\nbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Viva) were grown on the entire\nplot area the forth year as the test crop. Crop rotations did not\nsignificantly effect overall bean yields the fourth year after\ntopsoil removal. Applying 60 tons of dairy manure acre' (air dry\nbasis) was the only treatment that restored bean production to that\nof the topsoil. Plant Zn and soil organic carbon were the only\nfactors measured that correlated with bean yield increases on the\nsubsoil plots.
Authors: C. W. Robbins, L. L. Freeborn
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1487239561