Topsoil removal influences on spring wheat water-use efficiency and nutrient concentration and content.
1990
Tanaka D.L.
Crop response to soil loss varies depending on soil, climate, crop, and management practices. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships among topsoil removal and additions of N and P fertilizer treatments on spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) water-use efficiency (WUE), dry matter production, and N and P concentration and content at specific plant development stages. Soil removal treatments did not influence quantity of water used but significantly reduced grain WUE from 8.94 to 7.10 kg/ha/mm for 0.00- and 0.18-m soil removal treatments, respectively. Additions of N and P fertilizer increased WUE when compared to no fertilizer. For each 0.06 m of soil removed to a depth of 0.18 m, plant N content at plant development stage 11.4 (harvest) was reduced about 8 kg N/ha. At harvest, plant P content decreased with increased soil removal and increased with N and P fertilizer additions. To sustain environmentally acceptable agricultural production in the northern Great Plains, management practices are needed that protect topsoil from erosion while maintaining crop production and crop nutrient concentration and content to reduce additional fertilizer needs due to soil erosion.
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