Long-term effects of cropping systems and fertilizers on soil physical properties

Enhancing soil quality in intensive agricultural systems is important to sustaining productivity and improving environmental quality. Crapping systems play an important role in determining soil physical characteristics and in nutrient cycling mechanisms. Field experiments were conducted at the Agronomy Farm of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio on a well-drained Miamian silty-clay loam soil to assess cropping systems effects on soil physical properties. There were a total of 11 cropping system treatments involving 6 cover crops, 4 crop rotations and a fallow plot. All cropping system treatments were managed at two fertilizer levels. Dry soil aggregate stability, mean weight diameter, and moisture retention were determined for the 0-10 cm layer. Aggregate stability was high (93-96%), and not significantly affected by cropping systems and fertilizer levels. The mean weight diameter of aggregates varied from 5.9 to 6.1 mm. The cropping systems had no significant effect on mean weight diameter but the fertilizer level had a significant effect on it. The effect of cropping system treatments on soil moisture retention characteristics was significant only at near field capacity (-0.1 MPa suction).