Research Poster Competition and Presentations, Soil/Crop Management (Agriculture) and Sustainability
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Agricultural Science & Agribusiness
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Iin Handayani & Caleb Unverfehrt
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
No-till (NT) farming is widely implemented to enhance soil conservation by reducing disturbance and improving soil health, particularly regarding key indicators such as soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (MPor), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), soil water at field capacity (SWFC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different land management systems- NT Corn (NTC), NT Soybean (NTS), Campus Vegetable Garden (CVG), Community Garden (CG), Woodland Area (WA), and Rain Garden (RG), on these soil quality parameters. This study was conducted at Murray State University’s Pullen Farm in western Kentucky during September-October 2024, soil samples were collected from a 0-7 cm depth with four replications per site. Undisturbed samples were analyzed for BD, TP, MPor, SWHC, and SWFC, while disturbed samples were used for soil pH, SOM, and SOC measurements. Results indicated that soil pH ranged from 5.51 to 7.40, with NTC showing the highest value (7.11) and WA the lowest (5.86). CVG exhibited the highest SOM (19.64%) and lowest BD (0.84 g/cm3), while NTC had the lowest SOM (4.48%) and the highest BD (1.35 g/cm3). CVG also had the highest TP (68.36%), MPor (78.73%), SWHC (89.78%), SWFC (68.70%), and SOC (11.39%), whereas NTC showed the lowest values for these indicators. This study provides valuable information for farmers and land managers for improving agricultural practices on silt loam soils and emphasizes the importance of choosing appropriate crops in enhancing soil quality under NT systems.
Keywords: Acidity, Bulk density, No-tillage, Soil organic matter, Total porosity
Fall Scholars Week 2024 Event
Soil/Crop Management (Agriculture) and Sustainability: Research Poster Competition & Presentations
Included in
Assessing Soil Properties in Cultivated Areas of Silt Loam in Western Kentucky
No-till (NT) farming is widely implemented to enhance soil conservation by reducing disturbance and improving soil health, particularly regarding key indicators such as soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), bulk density (BD), total porosity (TP), macroporosity (MPor), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), soil water at field capacity (SWFC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different land management systems- NT Corn (NTC), NT Soybean (NTS), Campus Vegetable Garden (CVG), Community Garden (CG), Woodland Area (WA), and Rain Garden (RG), on these soil quality parameters. This study was conducted at Murray State University’s Pullen Farm in western Kentucky during September-October 2024, soil samples were collected from a 0-7 cm depth with four replications per site. Undisturbed samples were analyzed for BD, TP, MPor, SWHC, and SWFC, while disturbed samples were used for soil pH, SOM, and SOC measurements. Results indicated that soil pH ranged from 5.51 to 7.40, with NTC showing the highest value (7.11) and WA the lowest (5.86). CVG exhibited the highest SOM (19.64%) and lowest BD (0.84 g/cm3), while NTC had the lowest SOM (4.48%) and the highest BD (1.35 g/cm3). CVG also had the highest TP (68.36%), MPor (78.73%), SWHC (89.78%), SWFC (68.70%), and SOC (11.39%), whereas NTC showed the lowest values for these indicators. This study provides valuable information for farmers and land managers for improving agricultural practices on silt loam soils and emphasizes the importance of choosing appropriate crops in enhancing soil quality under NT systems.
Keywords: Acidity, Bulk density, No-tillage, Soil organic matter, Total porosity