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Soil properties following reforestation or afforestation of marginal cropland

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Abstract

Aims

Reforestation or afforestation of marginal agricultural lands offers opportunities to sequester soil organic carbon (SOC), improve the quality of degraded soils, and provide ecosystem services. The objectives of this study were to identify the extent and distribution of marginally productive cropland in the state of Iowa and to quantify the changes in SOC and relevant soil properties following tree planting.

Methods

A geographic information system (GIS) analysis was used to identify 1.05 million ha of marginal cropland within the state. Soil samples were collected from four locations with (<51 yr-old) forest plantations and adjacent crop fields. Soil samples were analyzed for SOC, total nitrogen (TN), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), ammonium acetate-extractable K, Ca, Mg, and Na, and particle size.

Results

The forested soils had 30.0 ± 5.1 % (mean±standard error) more SOC than the tilled cropland. The average annual change in SOC following tree planting was estimated to be 0.56 ± 0.05 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Differences were observed in several soil properties but strong correlations with SOC content were only observed for bulk density and extractable Ca.

Conclusions

These results indicate that within 5 decades of tree planting on former cropland or pasture there was consistently and significantly greater SOC in soil beneath the trees.

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Notes

  1. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Abbreviations

C:

Carbon

CEC:

Cation exchange capacity

CSR:

Corn suitability rating

GIS:

Geographic information system

HEL:

Highly erodible land

ISPAID:

Iowa Soil Properties and Interpretations Database

NT:

No-till

SOC:

Soil organic carbon

TN:

Total nitrogen

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely appreciate the field and laboratory assistance of Kevin Jensen, Shannon Kulisky, Forrest Goodman, Amy Morrow, David Den Haan and several student workers at the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment. We also recognize the cooperation of landowners/managers Danny Beasley, Jim Covey, George Davis, John Glotfelty, Jim and Jody Kerns, Dennis Knipper, and Jim Yender for allowing sampling on their property. Robert Honeywell, Ray Lehn, and Joe Schwartz of the Forestry Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Chris Bass of the Sac County Conservation Board provided site access and technical assistance that was instrumental in completion of the study. Support from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Project E2006-17) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, 2110 University Boulevard, Ames, IA, 50011-3120, USA

    Thomas J. Sauer, David E. James & Cynthia A. Cambardella

  2. New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Canterbury Agriculture and Science Centre, Private Bag 4704, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Guillermo Hernandez-Ramirez

Authors
  1. Thomas J. Sauer
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  2. David E. James
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  3. Cynthia A. Cambardella
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  4. Guillermo Hernandez-Ramirez
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Correspondence to Thomas J. Sauer.

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Responsible Editor: Zucong Cai.

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Sauer, T.J., James, D.E., Cambardella, C.A. et al. Soil properties following reforestation or afforestation of marginal cropland. Plant Soil 360, 375–390 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-012-1258-8

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