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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Plants Reduced Nitrous Oxide Emissions From A Northern Great Plains Saline/Sodic Soil, Sharon A. Clay, Thandiwe Nleya, David E. Clay, Deepak Joshi, Dwarika Bhattarai, Shin-Yi Marzano, Bhanu Prakash Petla Mar 2024

Plants Reduced Nitrous Oxide Emissions From A Northern Great Plains Saline/Sodic Soil, Sharon A. Clay, Thandiwe Nleya, David E. Clay, Deepak Joshi, Dwarika Bhattarai, Shin-Yi Marzano, Bhanu Prakash Petla

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

The slowly establishing salt-tolerant perennial grasses reduced nitrous oxide (N2 O- N) emissions from saline/sodic soil compared to barren areas. Other salt-tolerant species may accelerate vegetative establishment and reduce N 2 O-N emissions. In a greenhouse study, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), Florida broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea L.), and Kernza intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D. R. Dewey] were grown for 63 days to compare shoot biomass and chemical composition, N 2 O-N emissions, and the soil microbiome between saline/sodic and productive (non-salt impacted) soils. Emissions were measured six times daily from 1 to 22 and 42 to 63 …


Can Phytoremediation-Induced Changes In The Microbiome Improve Saline/Sodic Soil And Plant Health?, Achal Neupane, Duncan Jukubowski, Douglas Fiedler, Liping Gu, Sharon A. Clay, David E. Clay, Shin-Yi Marzano Jan 2024

Can Phytoremediation-Induced Changes In The Microbiome Improve Saline/Sodic Soil And Plant Health?, Achal Neupane, Duncan Jukubowski, Douglas Fiedler, Liping Gu, Sharon A. Clay, David E. Clay, Shin-Yi Marzano

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Increasing soil salinity and/or sodicity is an expanding problem in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America. This study investigated the impact of phytoremediation on the soil microbiome and if changes, in turn, had positive or negative effects on plant establishment. Amplicon sequencing and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer analysis compared root metabolites and microbial composition of bulk vs. rhizosphere soils between two soil types (productive and saline/sodic). Beta-diversity analysis indicated that bacterial and fungal communities from both the bulk and rhizosphere soils from each soil type clustered separately, indicating dissimilar microbial composition. Plant species also influenced both root-associated bacterial and …


Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin Jan 2024

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saline and sodic soils are an increasing concern across the Northern Great Plains (NGP) due to factors of climate change and land management that are drawing geologically derived salts to the land surface. Traditional laboratory assessments, such as electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), are time and resource consumptive. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) may be a viable proximal sensing alternative, as it is able to provide elemental data in minutes, in situ or ex situ, and can directly quantify salinity-associated elements like Ca, Mg, and S. PXRF paired with predictive models has proven useful for a range of …


The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson Jan 2024

The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term and intensified agricultural land management has resulted in increased rates of soil erosion and has altered much of the carbon cycle at regional and global scales. Anthropogenic degradation of soil resources is a barrier to sustainable production, soil functioning, and ecosystem services. It is difficult to quantify the scope of pedogenic changes due to the lack of legacy data and short temporal scales. This study utilized decades to century-old soil information to quantify historical soil erosion losses and changes in soil carbon pools of eastern South Dakota soils. The results show that soils in the region have been significantly …


Tracking Nitrogen Mineralization In The Presence Of Biochar Utilizing Complementary-Method Assays In East Central South Dakota, Andrew Calvin Engel Jan 2023

Tracking Nitrogen Mineralization In The Presence Of Biochar Utilizing Complementary-Method Assays In East Central South Dakota, Andrew Calvin Engel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding soil N transformations in agricultural systems of the Northern Great Plains is crucial for guiding effective soil and nutrient management of this vital cropland. While the use of biochar in agriculture has attracted great attention recently, little has been reported on the seasonal dynamics of soil nitrogen (N) transformation and its response to biochar application. A field experiment was conducted over 2 seasons, spring (6/3/19-6/24/19) and summer (7/26/19-8/16/19), using four treatments or control soil, urea (224 kg N/ha), biochar (46,250 kg/ha), and urea+biochar (224 kg N/ha and 46,250 kg/ha, respectively). The results for both seasons showed biochar had no …


Cover Crop Composition In Long-Term No-Till Soils In Semi-Arid Environments Do Not Influence Soil Health Measurements After One Year, Hunter Bielenberg, Jason D. Clark, Debankur Sanyal, Johnathon Wolthuizen, David Karki, Amin Rahhal, Anthony Bly Jan 2023

Cover Crop Composition In Long-Term No-Till Soils In Semi-Arid Environments Do Not Influence Soil Health Measurements After One Year, Hunter Bielenberg, Jason D. Clark, Debankur Sanyal, Johnathon Wolthuizen, David Karki, Amin Rahhal, Anthony Bly

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Evaluating the influence of grass or broadleaf cover crops on soil health measurements is common in the northern US Midwest. However, the comparison among different cover crop mixtures, including blends of both grass and broadleaf species is limited. In 2018–2020, cover crop experiments were conducted in South Dakota at 11 site-years. Cover crops were planted in the summer after small grains harvest as mixtures of dominantly grasses or broadleaves, a 50/50 grass/broadleaf mixture, and a no cover crop control. Soil and above-ground plant residue samples were collected in the fall before winter termination and in the spring before corn planting. …


Methods For Improving Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations For Corn In South Dakota, Andrew J. Ahlersmeyer Jan 2023

Methods For Improving Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations For Corn In South Dakota, Andrew J. Ahlersmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corn (Zea mays L.) is a vital commodity in South Dakota’s agricultural sector. Optimal corn production occurs when there are sufficient mineral nutrients in the soil, especially potassium (K). Applications of K fertilizer are used when soil test K (STK) levels are deficient. Therefore, producers need reliable, thoroughly tested fertilizer recommendations to make profitable decisions and maintain environmental stewardship. South Dakota K fertilizer recommendations have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Simultaneously, changes in corn genetics, management practices, and climate patterns suggest that the critical soil test value (CSTV) for STK may have shifted in that same time frame. …


Addressing Soil Carbon Sequestration Response From Multispecies Dairy Forage Systems And Modeling Rangeland Beef Cow Dry Matter Intake Using Precision Enteric Emissions Measurements, Lillian J. Mcfadden Jan 2023

Addressing Soil Carbon Sequestration Response From Multispecies Dairy Forage Systems And Modeling Rangeland Beef Cow Dry Matter Intake Using Precision Enteric Emissions Measurements, Lillian J. Mcfadden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regenerative agriculture is a pressing matter for the dairy industry to address cropland sustainability and carbon sequestration. One regenerative management practice that has been identified to help with row crop sustainability for key metrics like soil organic carbon (SOC) is complex covers. When producers use complex covers one of the main challenges is that it takes time to detect a change in SOC. However, simulation models are a tool that can be used to help determine if a regenerative practice is a strategy that gives the best results (i.e., increased SOC) while aligning with long-term production goals. Therefore, our objectives …


It's Not Just No-Till: Crop Rotations Are Key To Improving Soil Quality And Grain Yields At Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Natalie Sturm Jan 2022

It's Not Just No-Till: Crop Rotations Are Key To Improving Soil Quality And Grain Yields At Dakota Lakes Research Farm, Natalie Sturm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No-till is increasingly promoted as a vital agricultural practice to address the challenge of improving soil quality while maintaining the ability to produce food, feed, fuel, and fiber. However, questions remain regarding 1) how different crop rotations impact soil quality under no-till management specifically and 2) whether significant improvements in soil quality can be made without negatively impacted crop yields. In this study, we demonstrate that even under the same long-term no-till management, differences in grain yields and soil biological, chemical, and physical properties exist between crop rotations at Dakota Lakes Research Farm in central South Dakota. We propose that …


Machine-Learning And Meta-Analysis Techniques To Quantify And Predict Soil Organic Carbon, N2O-N And Co2-C Emissions In Cover Crop Systems, Deepak Raj Joshi Jan 2022

Machine-Learning And Meta-Analysis Techniques To Quantify And Predict Soil Organic Carbon, N2O-N And Co2-C Emissions In Cover Crop Systems, Deepak Raj Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People worldwide are challenged by multiple threats including climate change, growing populations, and soil degradation. Addressing these challenges requires understanding of the local environment, farming systems and modern technologies. These technologies include new ways to process information that include artificial intelligence, machine learning and meta-analysis. Models produced using these technologies may be useful for predicting the consequences of implementing conservation practices that reduce GHG emissions as well as for determining the carbon footprint of cropping systems that include environmentally friendly conservation technologies such as growing cover crop. Therefore, our objectives of this study were to: 1) provide an overview of …


Phosphorus Use And Management Based On Fertilizer Placement, Rate Of Application, And Soil Biota In No-Till Situations, Brennan Alexander Bingham Lewis Jan 2022

Phosphorus Use And Management Based On Fertilizer Placement, Rate Of Application, And Soil Biota In No-Till Situations, Brennan Alexander Bingham Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) pollution has become a concern among multiple scientific organizations as it leads to eutrophication, an algal bloom that depletes lacustrine and marine ecosystems of native species. Multiple strategies can be implemented to reduce phosphorus loss from agriculture fields, which is often implicated as a cause of eutrophication. Soil phosphorus chemistry results in phosphate fertilizers absorbing to clay minerals over time. Soil phosphorus is lost from agricultural fields primarily through wind and water erosion. No-till practices prevent soil erosion, which reduces the phosphorus from loading into waterways. Fertilizer placement affects phosphorus loss. Surface application of phosphorus fertilizers increases the …


Northern Great Plains Saline Sodic Soil Development, Classification, Remediation, And Management., Shaina Westhoff Jan 2022

Northern Great Plains Saline Sodic Soil Development, Classification, Remediation, And Management., Shaina Westhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil salinity and sodicity are issues of growing concern in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Knowledge gaps for glaciated, dryland salt-affected soils exist because much original salinity and sodicity research focused on irrigated systems. Land managers are being asked to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel for an expanding global population. The number of land managers and crop advisors who are affected by these soils is increasing. Addressing salinity and sodicity knowledge gaps will be critical for their success. Salinity and sodicity have been impeding crop productivity since the advent of cultivation. Saline and sodic soils form via multiple …


Response Of Soil Biochemical And Physical Properties To Long Term Prairie Cordgrass And Kura Clover Intercropping System, Vaishnavi Varikuti Jan 2022

Response Of Soil Biochemical And Physical Properties To Long Term Prairie Cordgrass And Kura Clover Intercropping System, Vaishnavi Varikuti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) (PCG) is a warm-season perennial grass that can be used as a biofuel feedstock and can be grown on marginal lands. Previous studies on intercropping of a perennial legume i.e., kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum) (KC) with PCG can improve soil biochemical properties, increase biomass production, mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while reducing the chemical fertilizer requirement. However, there is a lack of evidence about the effects of PCG production on soil biochemical and physical properties during the cropping season and at deeper soil depths in reference to support plant growth, environmental implications and enhance the soil …


Soil Hydro-Physical Properties, Computed Tomography Measured Pore Parameters, And Soil Health Indicators As Influenced By Tillage And Crop Rotation Systems, Goutham Thotakuri Jan 2022

Soil Hydro-Physical Properties, Computed Tomography Measured Pore Parameters, And Soil Health Indicators As Influenced By Tillage And Crop Rotation Systems, Goutham Thotakuri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term tillage and crop rotation systems are important agricultural management practices as these can have direct impact on the soil’s key properties. The objectives of this study were to (ⅰ) quantify the soil pore characteristics under long-term tillage and crop rotation using X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and to assess the relationships between XCT-measured pore parameters and soil hydro-physical properties; and (ⅱ) evaluate the impacts of long-term tillage and crop rotation on select soil health indicators. The objective (ⅰ) was carried out at Haskell Agricultural Laboratory (HAL), Concord, NE; and objective (ⅰi) was carried out at South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL), …


Combining Soil Health And Fertility Measurements To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Corn Grain Yield Responses To P And K Fertilization, Benjamin Groebner Jan 2022

Combining Soil Health And Fertility Measurements To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Corn Grain Yield Responses To P And K Fertilization, Benjamin Groebner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have pointed to changes in climate and land management practices to justify the need to reevaluate the accuracy of current South Dakota (SD) corn (Zea mays L.) P and K fertilizer recommendations. Also, an increase in soil health understanding has created the potential for soil health measurements to be used to improve the accuracy of these recommendations. The objectives for this study were to 1) evaluate the current P and K critical values and 2) determine the effect of including soil health indicators on improving fertilizer recommendation accuracy. This project was conducted throughout central and eastern SD from 2019-2021 …


South Dakota Farmers’ Perceived Extreme Weather Frequency And Adaptation Measures, Tong Wang, Jim Ristau Dec 2021

South Dakota Farmers’ Perceived Extreme Weather Frequency And Adaptation Measures, Tong Wang, Jim Ristau

South Dakota Farm Survey

Researchers at South Dakota State University (SDSU) conducted surveys of eastern South Dakota (SD) commodity crop producers with the support of the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. Using publicly available addresses of government program participants, a random sample of 3,000 producers were sent the survey in 2018. 650 were ineligible and 708 responded to the survey for a response rate of 30%. In 2021, the same producers who took the survey in 2018 were asked to take a follow up survey. 94 were ineligible, and 350 responded for a 59% response rate. Producers could take the survey online or via …


Evaluating Canola Genotypes For Growth And Yield Under Different Environmental Conditions In South Dakota, Unius Arinaitwe Jan 2021

Evaluating Canola Genotypes For Growth And Yield Under Different Environmental Conditions In South Dakota, Unius Arinaitwe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Canola (Brassica napus L) and carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun) are potential oilseed crops for diversifying cropping systems and expanding into marginal lands impacted by saline and sodic soils in South Dakota (SD). However, genotypes that are high yielding, with high agronomic adaptability and stability over diverse environments, and salt tolerant have not been selected. One field experiment was conducted at two environments (Brookings - eastern SD and Pierre - western SD) from 2019 to 2020 to evaluate genotypes for growth and yield stability. Three greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate genotypes for salt tolerance in …


Soil Physical And Hydrological Properties, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Integrated Crop-Livestock Agroecosystems, Navdeep Singh Jan 2020

Soil Physical And Hydrological Properties, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Integrated Crop-Livestock Agroecosystems, Navdeep Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops (CCs) and grazing play a critical role in successful implementation of the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) because they can have a direct impact on soils and greenhouse gas emissions. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the short-term impacts of CCs [grass dominated cover crops (GdC) and legume dominated cover crops (LdC)] and grazed CCs and corn (Zea mays L.) residue under oat (Avena sativa L.)–CC–corn rotation on soil physical and hydrological properties; (ii) quantify the architecture of soil pores using X-ray computed tomography (CT) for soils managed under long-term ICLS, native grazed pasture and corn-soybean …


Management Implications Of A Rye Cover Crop On Nutrient Cycling And Soybean Production In Southeast South Dakota: Focus On Rye Seeding Rates And Termination Timing, Benjamin Brockmueller Jan 2020

Management Implications Of A Rye Cover Crop On Nutrient Cycling And Soybean Production In Southeast South Dakota: Focus On Rye Seeding Rates And Termination Timing, Benjamin Brockmueller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) has become an important cover crop in South Dakota; yet, concerns over negative impacts on cash crop yields is one important limitation to the widespread adoption of winter rye in cropping systems. Two field studies were implemented at the Southeast Research Farm near Beresford, SD investigating the impacts of five seeding rates (0-90 kg ha-1) and termination timings (April 19th- May31st) with the objectives of examining the roles of winter rye management practices on soybean production and yield from nutrient cycling of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) in the agroecosystem. Plant, residue, …


Crop Rotations, Tillage And Cover Crops Influences On Soil Health, Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Farm Profitability, Jasdeep Singh Jan 2020

Crop Rotations, Tillage And Cover Crops Influences On Soil Health, Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Farm Profitability, Jasdeep Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the effects of three levels of crop rotation: [2-yr; corn (Zea mays L.)- soybean (Glycine max L.), 3-yr; corn-soybean-oat (Avena sativa L.) or 4-yr; cornsoybean- oat-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)], two tillage [conventional-till (CT) and no-till (NT)], and two winter cover cropping systems [cover crop (CC) or fallow control (NC)] on soil biochemical and physical properties, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), microbial community composition, crop yield and farm profitability under silty clay loam soil of south eastern South Dakota. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a split-split plot treatment arrangement with four replications. Rotations, tillage …


United States Midwest Soil And Weather Conditions Influence Anaerobic Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen, Jason D. Clark, Kristen S. Veum, Fabian G. Fernandez, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Daniel E. Kaiser, Newell R. Kitchen, Carrie A.M. Laboski, Emerson D. Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan Sep 2019

United States Midwest Soil And Weather Conditions Influence Anaerobic Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen, Jason D. Clark, Kristen S. Veum, Fabian G. Fernandez, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Daniel E. Kaiser, Newell R. Kitchen, Carrie A.M. Laboski, Emerson D. Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Nitrogen provided to crops through mineralization is an important factor in N management guidelines. Understanding of the interactive effects of soil and weather conditions on N mineralization needs to be improved. Relationships between anaerobic potentially mineralizable N (PMNan) and soil and weather conditions were evaluated under the contrasting climates of eight US Midwestern states. Soil was sampled (0–30 cm) for PMNan analysis before pre-plant N application (PP0N) and at the V5 development stage from the pre-plant 0 (V50N) and 180 kg N ha−1 (V5180N) rates and incubated for 7, 14, …


Chemical Amendments Of Dryland Saline–Sodic Soils Did Not Enhance Productivity And Soil Health In Fields Without Effective Drainage, Girma A. Birru, David E. Clay, Thomas M. Desutter, Cheryl L. Reese, Ann C. Kennedy, Sharon A. Clay, Stephanie A. Bruggeman, Rachel K. Owen, Douglas D. Malo Apr 2019

Chemical Amendments Of Dryland Saline–Sodic Soils Did Not Enhance Productivity And Soil Health In Fields Without Effective Drainage, Girma A. Birru, David E. Clay, Thomas M. Desutter, Cheryl L. Reese, Ann C. Kennedy, Sharon A. Clay, Stephanie A. Bruggeman, Rachel K. Owen, Douglas D. Malo

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

A common restoration treatment for saline–sodic soils involves improving soil drainage, applying soil amendments (e.g., CaSO4, CaCl2, or elemental S), and leaching with water that has a relatively low electrical conductivity. However, due to high subsoil bulk densities and low drainable porosities, these treatments many not be effective in glaciated dryland systems. A 3-yr field study conducted in three model systems determined the impact of chemical amendments (none, CaCl2, CaSO4, and elemental S) on plant growth, microbial composition, temporal changes in electrical conductivity (ECe ), and the relative sodium content (%Na). …


Brassica Carinata Growth And Yield Response To Nitrogen And Sulfur Fertilizers And Impacts On Selected Soil Parameters And Ghg Fluxes, Dwarika Bhattarai Jan 2019

Brassica Carinata Growth And Yield Response To Nitrogen And Sulfur Fertilizers And Impacts On Selected Soil Parameters And Ghg Fluxes, Dwarika Bhattarai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun), a non-food oilseed crop and an alternative bio-jet fuel feedstock, has received attention for its potential as a low-input option for production in the semi-arid regions of the Northern Great Plains of USA. The crop has a lower N fertilizer requirement as compared to the other oilseeds, suggesting less negative impact on soils and GHGs emissions. Carinata is a new crop to South Dakota (SD), thus, the best management practices have yet to be developed. In addition, no sufficient research to address the impact of growing carinata on soils and GHG emissions has been …


Isolation And Identification Of Potential Bioinoculants Based On Phosphate Solubilizing And Plant Growth Promoting Benefits, Rachel Raths Jan 2019

Isolation And Identification Of Potential Bioinoculants Based On Phosphate Solubilizing And Plant Growth Promoting Benefits, Rachel Raths

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conservative models have shown that as populations rise, food production needs to double by 2050. Population increase and the green revolution have caused fertilizer inputs to increase since the 1960’s, increasing environmental issues and production costs. These intensive practices have led to degraded arable land and there has been an increase in urbanization meaning we need to make best use of the farming land that is available and ensure it is sustainable for future food production. Due to this, there has been a higher demand for research on more environmentally and economically friendly approaches to food production. Plant growth promoting …


Diversifying Cornfields By Interseeding Cover Crops: Practical Implications And The Response Of Invertebrate Communities, Michael Bredeson Jan 2019

Diversifying Cornfields By Interseeding Cover Crops: Practical Implications And The Response Of Invertebrate Communities, Michael Bredeson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lack of suitable habitat conditions for beneficial organisms in simplified agroecosystems leads to unstable invertebrate communities and overreliance on chemical control of herbivores. It is possible to manage pest populations without agrichemicals by manipulating farmland so that herbivores are impaired by plant-driven bottom-up and enemy-driven top-down antagonisms. Interseeding cover crops between established crop rows is a method used by farmers to improve habitat suitability for natural enemies and hinder host-finding, feeding and movement by herbivores. Here I address three important research gaps related to interseeding cover crops. A calcium carbonate seed coating, used to improve seed-broadcasting efficiency, was tested …


Do Precision Chemical Amendment Applications Impact Sodium Movement In Dryland Semiarid Saline Sodic Soils?, Tulsi P. Kharel, David E. Clay, Cheryl Reese, Thomas Desutter, Doug D. Malo, Sharon Clay Mar 2018

Do Precision Chemical Amendment Applications Impact Sodium Movement In Dryland Semiarid Saline Sodic Soils?, Tulsi P. Kharel, David E. Clay, Cheryl Reese, Thomas Desutter, Doug D. Malo, Sharon Clay

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Expanding sodicity and salinity problems have placed many northern Great Plains (NGP) soils at the sustainability tipping point. This study assessed the impact of chemical restoration on water and salt transport in undisturbed soil columns collected from three hillslope model landscape positions. The backslope (Redfield), footslope (White Lake), and toeslope (Pierpont) soils had moderate (3.27 ± 0.59), high (7.3 ± 3.34), and very high (13.29 ± 3.2) sodium adsorption ratio (SARe) values, respectively. The soils were treated with KBr and one of four soil amendments (none, H2SO4, CaSO4, and CaCl2). …


Impacts Of Diverse Crop Rotations And Integrated Crop-Livestock System On Soil Quality In South Dakota, Atilla Polat Jan 2018

Impacts Of Diverse Crop Rotations And Integrated Crop-Livestock System On Soil Quality In South Dakota, Atilla Polat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crop diversification can be beneficial in improving soil quality parameters. Diverse crop rotations and integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), are two examples of crop diversification used in this study to assess soil quality. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the impacts of diverse rotations on soil quality parameters, and (ii) assess the impacts of low and high stocking density on soil quality parameters. Both of the studies were conducted separately and are presented as two different chapters. To accomplish objective (i), a long-term experiment was selected which was established near Brookings, South Dakota, USA at USDA-ARS lab in …


Quantifying The Short-Term Impacts Of Cover Crops And Grazing On Soil Health Under An Integrated Crop-Livestock System In South Dakota, Vishal Seth Jan 2018

Quantifying The Short-Term Impacts Of Cover Crops And Grazing On Soil Health Under An Integrated Crop-Livestock System In South Dakota, Vishal Seth

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops and grazing under Integrated Crop-Livestock System (ICLS) can impact the rhizosphere nutrient cycling and may have potential to increase the long-term sustainability and economic profitability of agricultural production system. In South Dakota, crop production practices and livestock husbandry are both common which provide the opportunity for ICLS to be successful in this region. However, little is known about the impacts of the cover crops and grazing under ICLS on soil properties in this region. The present study was conducted at South Dakota State University Research Farm (44°20'34.8"N, 96°48'14.8"W), Brookings, SD, to quantify the impacts of cover crops and …


Interactive Effects Of Cover Crops, Invertebrate Communities And Soil Health In Corn Production Systems, Claire Lacanne Jan 2017

Interactive Effects Of Cover Crops, Invertebrate Communities And Soil Health In Corn Production Systems, Claire Lacanne

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The adoption of regenerative farming practices is gaining traction, but the costs and benefits are not often considered on a systems level. Encouraging biodiversity and soil health is the goal of many agricultural practices used in regenerative farming; regenerative systems employ practices which abide by the two main principles of increasing biodiversity and decreasing disturbance, with the goal of encouraging ecosystem functioning to minimize inputs and maximize the productivity of a farm. I examined the management of corn (Zea mays) fields across four states in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. Regenerative systems in this study …


Soil Response To Cropping Sequences And Grazing Under Integrated Crop-Livestock System, Hanxiao Feng Jan 2017

Soil Response To Cropping Sequences And Grazing Under Integrated Crop-Livestock System, Hanxiao Feng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) is helpful in diversifying a farm for improving its long-term sustainability and economic benefits. In the United States, the ICLS has been increasing in recent years because of its economic and environmental benefits. However, the impacts of ICLS on soil quality is not well documented in North Dakota. The objective of our study is to assess the impacts of cropping sequences and cattle grazing on the selected soil properties in the crop diversity and livestock integration practice. This study site was established in 2010 at the Dickinson Research Extension Center, Dickinson, North Dakota. The study design …