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This study explores the effects of managing soil and removing crop biomass on soil organic matter content, crucial for sustainability and crop production. Key factors examined include crop rotations, fertilizer management, manure applications, and biomass removal strategies.
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Soil Management and Crop Biomass Removal Impacts on Soil Organic Matter Content Krisztina Eleki, Richard M. Cruse, László Fodor, Lajos Szabó, and Sándor Holló
????????????????????????? • Can we remove crop biomass and conserve soil organic matter content (humus)?
Why is this an important question? • The U.S. government “Vision for Bioenergy and Bio-based Products in the United States” – from biomass by 2030 • 5% of power, • 20% of transportation fuels and • 25% of chemicals
Why is this an important question? • Much of biomass will come from agricultural land
What do we understand? • Soil Organic Matter very important • Sustainability • Soil quality • Crop production • Soil and water conservation
What do we understand? • Soil organic matter if organic matter added* • Soil organic matter if biomass removed* * For simple cropping systems – one or two crop, one or two fertilizer management treatments
We do not understand interactions! • Crop type • Crop rotations • Fertilizer management – root mass and microbial activity • Manure applications – organic matter additions • Tillage – microbial activity Root morphology (form) effects
Key – seeking evidence • Can we harvest crop biomass? IF YES • How much can we harvest? • What is best management?
Objective • Determine the effect of management practices on Soil Organic Matter (SOM) change with time • Crop rotation • Fertilizer management • Manure application • Crop biomass removal
Methods • Location – Kompolt, Hungary, Rudolf Fleischmann Research Station - 47°45' N and 20°15' E • Multifactor experiment – four replications • Crop rotations (main plots) - 3 • Fertilizer rate (splits of main plots) - 12 • Fertilizer management (second split) - 3
Methods (cont.) • Fertilizer rates – 12 • Commercial fertilizer rates • Manure application • Biomass removal vs. no removal
Methods (cont.) • Experiment 1961 – 2001 • SOM measured: 0 – 30 cm depth • Analysis of Variance
Results P < 0.0008 Fertilizer 1961 SOM = 2.58%
Results P = 0.08 Four Crop Rotation Cont. Corn 1961 SOM = 2.58%
Results P < 0.0001 4 YR Corn, 4 Alfalfa 4 YR app., 4 YR none Yearly Application
Results P < 0.0008 No Manure Biomass Removal Manure – 35.2 Mg/ha Biomass Removal No Manure Biomass Incorp.
Conclusions • Rotations ???? • Fertilizer management • Manure applications • Biomass removal
Next Step • Test 2 soil carbon models against this data • Use best model to estimate SOM change across landscape in Iowa • With different management • With biomass removal