TITLE:
Long-Term Effects of Alternative Residue Management Practices on Soil Water Retention in a Wheat-Soybean, Double-Crop System in Eastern Arkansas
AUTHORS:
Ryan Norman, Kristofor R. Brye, Edward E. Gbur, Pengyin Chen, John Rupe
KEYWORDS:
Water Retention, Tillage, Residue Burning
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Soil Science,
Vol.5 No.9,
September
15,
2015
ABSTRACT: Soil
water retention is a critical aspect of agricultural management, especially in
areas such as the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley that face potential
water shortages in the near future. Previous studies have linked changes in
soil water retention characteristics to agricultural management practices,
especially as they affect the accumulation of soil organic matter (SOM).
Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship
between soil water potential and gravimetric soil water content in the top 7.5
cm as affected by nitrogen (N) fertilization/residue level (high and low),
residue burning (burning and non-burning), tillage (conventional and
no-tillage), and irrigation (irrigated and non-irrigated) after 12 complete cropping
cycles in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.],
double-crop production system in the Delta region of eastern Arkansas using
soil wetting curves. The soil investigated was a Calloway silt loam (fine
silty, mixed, active, thermic Glossaquic Fraglossudalf). The slope
characterizing the relationship between the natural logarithm of the soil water
potential and the gravimetric soil water content was only affected (P 0.12 g·g-1.
Understanding the ways in which alternative residue management practices affect
soil water retention characteristics is an important component of conserving
irrigation water resources.