Potential amendments for improving productivity of low carbon semiarid soil

Bijesh Maharjan,Dinesh Panday,Humberto Blanco‐Canqui,Maysoon M Mikha

doi:10.1002/agg2.20171

Abstract

AbstractApplying soil amendments with high C content can potentially improve soil properties and increase crop yields. The objective of this 3‐yr field study was to evaluate the effects of organic amendments on soil organic C (SOC), chemical properties, crop nutrient uptake, and crop yields in a low C sandy loam soil near Scottsbluff, NE. The field was planted to dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in 2017, maize (Zea mays L.) in 2018, and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in 2019. Char at 22.3, 44.6, 66.9, 89.2, and 133.8 Mg ha–1; biochar at 5.6 and 11.2 Mg ha–1; and composted manure and municipal compost each at 33.6 and 67.2 Mg ha–1 were applied and incorporated into the soil. In 1 yr after application, organic amendments increased SOC level in top 20 cm by 7–60%. In the second year, maize leaf tissue Fe was greater with char treatments and high biochar rate compared with the control. Greater Fe uptake in beet leaf tissue or trend for such was observed in amendment treatments at high rates compared with low rates and the control in the third year. Maize yield was enhanced with char, municipal compost, and high compost manure rate. Biochar was applied at lower rates than other amendments, and it had no effects on the parameters studied. Results suggest that locally available organic products can be potential soil amendments to increase SOC and enhance productivity. Care needs to be taken to prevent salt buildup and unwanted toxic material accumulation associated with amendments.

Highlights

Soil degradation, nutrient depletion, and declining crop productivity are major constraints in agriculture, in semiarid region of the U.S Great Plains (MacCarthy et al, 2010; Mikha et al, 2017; Rajashekhara Rao et al, 2012)
The organic amendments showed no effect on dry bean yield, which could be related to the fact that these amendments were applied shortly before dry bean planting
Our results suggest that locally available amendments including char, municipal compost, or composted manure can increase productivity of low organic C (7 g kg−1) soils in semiarid regions

Summary

Introduction

Nutrient depletion, and declining crop productivity are major constraints in agriculture, in semiarid region of the U.S Great Plains (MacCarthy et al, 2010; Mikha et al, 2017; Rajashekhara Rao et al, 2012). This region of the United States was exposed to the historic Dust Bowl of the 1930s as the cropland lost its top productive surface rich with organic material resulting in decreased.

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