By Andi Anderson
Ohio has been home to some of the longest-running soil quality experiments, initiated in the 1960s by pioneers Dr. Grover Triplett and Dr. David Van Doorhan. Their work focused on understanding how tillage and crop rotations impact soil structure and crop yields.
Tillage and Soil Structure:
Experiments at Hoytville’s heavy clay soils and Wooster’s silt loam soils revealed that no-till combined with diverse crop rotations significantly improved soil structure. Soil aggregates, vital for water infiltration, drainage, and organic matter retention, responded faster in silt loam soils compared to clay. At Hoytville, improvements were slower due to a hard plow pan, but rotations like corn-soybean-wheat-hay (c-s-w-h) eventually showed dramatic gains.
Organic Matter Growth:
At Wooster, organic matter (SOM) in no-till plots improved from 1.4% to 2.5%, while plowed plots declined. Hoytville showed similar results, with no-till and diversified rotations increasing SOM to 5%. Corn, with its robust root system, contributed significantly to these gains, unlike soybeans, which often reduced SOM.
Crop Yields Over Time:
No-till combined with diversified crop rotations produced the highest corn yields, with up to a 26-bushel advantage over plowed plots. In contrast, less diverse rotations and soybeans took longer to recover, especially in heavy clay soils.
This long-term research underscores the importance of no-till practices and diverse rotations in building soil health and sustaining yields.
By improving soil structure and organic matter, farmers can better withstand extreme weather and ensure long-term productivity. The findings continue to guide sustainable farming practices in Ohio and beyond.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock
Categories: Ohio, Sustainable Agriculture