Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Agriculture Education
Institution
Murray State University
KY House District #
24
KY Senate District #
14
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
I.P. Handayani, PhD; Steve Still, PhD
Department
Hutson School of Agriculture
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variations of soil characteristics under different management practices in rural soils versus urban soils. In this study, soil samples from rural areas in Kentucky were collected from a woodland plot, a no-till plot, and a tilled plot. The soil samples from the rural were taken from two depths in order to better evaluate the effect of tillage on the soil. A shallow depth of 0-7cm and a deep depth of 7-15cm were used. Soil samples were also taken from urban plots in Memphis, TN. The sampled plots included were an animal shelter, a middle school, and a high school. The soils from the urban area were maintained for aesthetics only. In the urban area, samples were taken from the A Horizon. All the soil samples were analyzed for organic carbon, particulate organic matter, aggregate stability, pH, water holding capacity, field capacity, and macroporosity. The results show that various soil management practices and urban development significantly affect soil properties, however the magnitude of the effect differs.
Included in
Variations of Soil Qualities in Urban and Rural Areas
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variations of soil characteristics under different management practices in rural soils versus urban soils. In this study, soil samples from rural areas in Kentucky were collected from a woodland plot, a no-till plot, and a tilled plot. The soil samples from the rural were taken from two depths in order to better evaluate the effect of tillage on the soil. A shallow depth of 0-7cm and a deep depth of 7-15cm were used. Soil samples were also taken from urban plots in Memphis, TN. The sampled plots included were an animal shelter, a middle school, and a high school. The soils from the urban area were maintained for aesthetics only. In the urban area, samples were taken from the A Horizon. All the soil samples were analyzed for organic carbon, particulate organic matter, aggregate stability, pH, water holding capacity, field capacity, and macroporosity. The results show that various soil management practices and urban development significantly affect soil properties, however the magnitude of the effect differs.