Publication Date
1997
Description
A remnant prairie was used for comparison of the soil as a natural resource among alternative and conventional farming systems. Beginning and ending biotic and abiotic characteristics were quantified directly. Carbon and N flow was calculated using CENTURY model. Carbon decay was not tied to the size of the soil organic matter pool (SOM), but to crop choice. Nitrogen decay was linked to the size of the SOM pool. Nitrogen fertilizer depressed the amount of N mineralized by soil biota. The alternative farming systems in North Dakota (no-till and green-manure fallow) more nearly mimic the ecosystem processes of the prairie by increasing biotic storage (perennial roots and soil biota), increasing abiotic storage (residues), and slowing the flow of active soil C which helped slow and stabilize SOM-C.
Citation
Clancy, S A.; Biondini, M E.; and Gardner, J C., "Grasslands as a Comparative for Farming Practices' Influence on Carbon/Nitrogen Dynamics" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 14.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session20/14
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grasslands as a Comparative for Farming Practices' Influence on Carbon/Nitrogen Dynamics
A remnant prairie was used for comparison of the soil as a natural resource among alternative and conventional farming systems. Beginning and ending biotic and abiotic characteristics were quantified directly. Carbon and N flow was calculated using CENTURY model. Carbon decay was not tied to the size of the soil organic matter pool (SOM), but to crop choice. Nitrogen decay was linked to the size of the SOM pool. Nitrogen fertilizer depressed the amount of N mineralized by soil biota. The alternative farming systems in North Dakota (no-till and green-manure fallow) more nearly mimic the ecosystem processes of the prairie by increasing biotic storage (perennial roots and soil biota), increasing abiotic storage (residues), and slowing the flow of active soil C which helped slow and stabilize SOM-C.
