HSA | Soils and Sustainability
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Evaluation of Various Management Practices and Their Effect on Soil Quality Indicators
K. Krieger, M. Welden,and E. Williams.
Mentor: Dr. I.P. Handayani
Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, KY, USA
Abstract
Different management practices have an effect on soil quality. Degradation of soil quality can negatively affect the environment around it. This research aims to examine various management zones in Western Kentucky and determine how they influence soil quality. Samples were collected from seven different management practices, consisting of silt-loam soils in Calloway County. Those locations are continuous no-till corn, waterway, wooded area, miscanthus, tobacco field, pasture, and livestock arena. Twenty-eight undisturbed soil cores were taken from topsoil to 0-7.5cm deep to measure and analyze soil characteristics. These core samples were collected in the first week of October 2022, and processing began immediately after core extraction. The samples were examined for bulk density (BD), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), total porosity (TP), and soil organic matter (SOM). The results indicate that the tobacco field and livestock area had the highest compaction as measured by bulk density and porosity. Both of these fields also have a light color indicating a low organic matter. Wooded area and no-till system provided the highest water holding capacity. This research has identified management practices that have the most symbiotic relationship with the soil ecosystem.
Keywords: Bulk Density, Soil Quality, Water Holding Capacity, Porosity, Organic Matter
Fall Scholars Week 2022 Event
Soils and Sustainability
Evaluation of Various Management Practices and Their Effect on Soil Quality Indicators
Evaluation of Various Management Practices and Their Effect on Soil Quality Indicators
K. Krieger, M. Welden,and E. Williams.
Mentor: Dr. I.P. Handayani
Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, KY, USA
Abstract
Different management practices have an effect on soil quality. Degradation of soil quality can negatively affect the environment around it. This research aims to examine various management zones in Western Kentucky and determine how they influence soil quality. Samples were collected from seven different management practices, consisting of silt-loam soils in Calloway County. Those locations are continuous no-till corn, waterway, wooded area, miscanthus, tobacco field, pasture, and livestock arena. Twenty-eight undisturbed soil cores were taken from topsoil to 0-7.5cm deep to measure and analyze soil characteristics. These core samples were collected in the first week of October 2022, and processing began immediately after core extraction. The samples were examined for bulk density (BD), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), total porosity (TP), and soil organic matter (SOM). The results indicate that the tobacco field and livestock area had the highest compaction as measured by bulk density and porosity. Both of these fields also have a light color indicating a low organic matter. Wooded area and no-till system provided the highest water holding capacity. This research has identified management practices that have the most symbiotic relationship with the soil ecosystem.
Keywords: Bulk Density, Soil Quality, Water Holding Capacity, Porosity, Organic Matter