Haying, Tillage, and Nitrogen Fertilization Influences on Infiltration Rates at a Conservation Reserve Program Site

Authors

Brian J. Wienhold, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Donald L. Tanaka, USDA-ARSFollow

Date of this Version

2000

Citation

Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 64:379–381 (2000).

Abstract

Effect of haying (hayed or not hayed prior to tillage), tillage (no-tillage, minimum tillage, or conventional tillage), and N fertilization (0 or 67 kg ha^‒1) on surface infiltration rates, Q(h), was evaluated for Conservation Research Program (CRP) site conversion. Soils included Amor loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustoll) and Cabba silt loam (loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid, shallow Typic Ustorthent). In reference plots Q(h) increased from 1995 to 1997 (27.2 ± 3.2 vs. 36.4 ± 2.9 mm h^‒1 at 50-mm tension, 10.9 ± 1.2 vs. 20.6 ± 1.4 mm h^‒1 at 100-mm tension, and 4.1 ± 0.6 vs. 10.9 ± 1.1mm h^‒1 at 150mm-tension) under permanent vegetation. Plots hayed prior to tillage exhibited higher Q(h) when no fertilizer was applied than plots hayed and fertilized or not hayed (31.9 ± 2.9 vs. 23.3 ± 1.3 mm h^‒1 at 50-mm tension and 18.1 ± 1.3 vs. 13.5 ± 0.6 mm h^‒1 at 100-mm tension). As tillage intensity increased, Q(h) at 50-mm tension increased (20.1 ± 2.6 mm h^‒1 under no-tillage, 25.5 ± 1.6 mm h^‒1 under minimum tillage, and 30.1 ± 2.0 mm h^‒1 under conventional tillage). Q(h) did not change from 1995 to 1997 in cropped plots.