Crop rotation effect on selected physical and chemical properties of Wisconsin soils

Abstract

In response to climate change, there is a need to adopt more resilient cropping systems for increased productivity. In this study, three corn (Zea mays L.)-based rotations—continuous corn (CC), corn–soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.; CS), and corn–soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; CSW), where all residues were retained on the field after harvest—were selected to study their effects on soil properties at three managed sites in Wisconsin—Arlington, Lancaster, and Marshfield. Soil core samples were collected at four depths (0 to 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 40, and 40 to 60 cm) in 2011. In 2013 and 2015, soil core samples were collected at the two top depths. Soil water retention (WR), plant available water (PAW), bulk density (BD), soil carbon (C), soil nitrogen (N), and C/N ratio were evaluated. Water retention was determined from 0 to 10 and 10 to 20 cm depths at five different matric potentials (Ψ = 0, −5, −10, −33, and −1,500 kPa). There was a significant location × depth interaction across soil properties, which could be associated with differences in management among locations. Averaged across location, CC and CSW rotations had greater water content and PAW across WR tensions than CS rotation at 0 to 10 cm depth, while no differences existed at 10 to 20 cm depth. Crop rotations had similar BD across locations and depths (1.37 to 1.41 g cm−3). A significant three-way location × depth × rotation interaction for C and N amount was affected with generally higher C and N amount in CSW rotation at Lancaster and smaller differences among crop rotations at Arlington and Marshfield. Observed low soil C/N ratio values (