Asset Details
Do you wish to reserve the book?
Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands
Hey, we have placed the reservation for you!
By the way, why not check out events that you can attend while you pick your title.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place the reservation. Kindly try again later.
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands
Do you wish to request the book?
Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands
Please be aware that the book you have requested cannot be checked out. If you would like to checkout this book, you can reserve another copy
We have requested the book for you!
Your request is successful and it will be processed during the Library working hours. Please check the status of your request in My Requests.
Oops! Something went wrong.
Looks like we were not able to place your request. Kindly try again later.
Journal Article
Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands
2021
Overview
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been a major factor in land transitions out of intensive row‐crop management on marginally productive lands in the central United States. While CRP can protect these more environmentally sensitive lands against erosion and potential nutrient loss, information on how CRP affects soil quality over time is limited. Using a chronosequence with 0–40 yr of CRP conversion history, we evaluated soil quality under different land use intensities (CRP, pasture, row crop) using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Effects of slope classes (higher [14–25%] and lower [2–14%]) and soil depth (0–120 cm) were also evaluated. Our results show that the soils were functioning at 84 and 78% of their theoretical capacity under CRP and row crop, respectively. Conversion to CRP enhanced overall soil quality by increasing soil biological, physical, and chemical attributes, but soil nutrient availability decreased due to the absence of fertilizer application. Increasing soil organic C (SOC) enhanced overall soil quality because of its impact on soil biological, physical, chemical, and nutrient conditions. Conversion to CRP will likely have greater benefits for more environmentally sensitive soils (i.e., higher slope) as demonstrated by structural equation modeling. Land use effects were also depth dependent, with more prominent effects within the 0‐to‐5‐cm than the 5‐to‐15‐cm depth increment. Overall, our methods focused on key soil quality indicators, confirmed ecological benefits of CRP conversion, and provided guidance for improved and simplified land management recommendations. Core Ideas Converting marginal cropland to the Conservation Reserve Program for 10−40 yr improved soil quality. Decreased land use intensity had stronger benefits on environmentally sensitive soil. Decreased land use intensity increased soil organic C for 0‐to‐5‐cm depth but not deeper depths. C and N availabilities explained 82% of the variations in β‐glucosidase activity. Conversion to the Conservation Reserve Program decreased NO3 leaching potential.
