Rebuilding the Fertility and Productivity of Eroded Knoll Soils
Date
2021-03-16
Authors
Hangs, Ryan
Schoenau, Jeff
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Poster Presentation
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Abstract
Historical erosion (water, wind, and tillage) of upper-slope knolls within hummocky fields have typically resulted in the translocation of native fertile topsoil to lower-slope positions, leaving the soils remaining at these higher landscape positions with low organic matter, poor fertility, along with reduced water infiltration and holding capacity. A three-year rotational field study was established to evaluate the productivity of spring wheat, field pea, and canola growing on two eroded knoll locations with and without nine different soil fertility treatments: side-banded mono-ammonium phosphate; side-banded zinc sulfate; side-banded copper sulfate; side-banded ZnSO4 + CuSO4; side banded MAP + ZnSO4 + CuSO4; composted solid cattle manure (SCM) broadcast and incorporated; broadcast and incorporated SCM followed by side-banded ZnSO4 + CuSO4; side-banded Zn-containing char; and historically eroded topsoil mechanically transplanted back onto the knoll from an adjacent depressional area. Based on the first growing season results, it appears that even under record-breaking dry growing season conditions, restoring eroded topsoil back to the eroded knoll landscape position is the most effective method of increasing spring wheat crop productivity. Positive responses of wheat and pea to MAP and Zn respectively, as well as trend towards benefit from SCM, indicate potential benefits from these amendments as well, albeit smaller than replacing the original topsoil lost by erosion.
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Erosion, Knoll Soils, Soil Fertility
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Part Of
Soils and Crops Workshop