Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Understanding The Effects Of Complex Topography On Cover Crop Dynamics And Maize Production In Kentucky Agroecosystems, Samuel John Leuthold

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

In Central Kentucky, rolling hill cropland presents a number of challenges related to soil sustainability. Increased topographic complexity can lead to increased erosion, inefficient crop nutrient use and increased nutrient loss. Further, grain crop yields can be variable across both space and time in rolling hill fields and are less resilient to changes in weather conditions than flatter, more homogeneous areas. More than 30% of cropland in Kentucky has a slope greater than 3⁰, which means a large swath of the row crop production land in the state is at increased risk of contribution to soil and water resource degradation. …