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Cropping System Effects on Nitrogen Removal, Soil Nitrogen, Aggregate Stability, and Subsequent Corn Grain Yield

Dep. of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011
USDA-ARS-NPS, Rm. 212, Bldg. 005, BARC-West, Beltsville, MD 20705
USDA-ARS, Natl. Soil Tilth Lab., 2150 Pammel Dr., Ames, IA 50011

^* Corresponding author (drb{at}ars.usda.gov).

Cropping systems can affect soil quality and productivity of subsequent crops. We conducted this study to evaluate effects of several annual and perennial crop species on N removal, residual soil N, aggregate stability, and subsequent corn (Zea mays L.) production. Thirteen cropping systems were grown with various rates of N fertilizer for 6 yr on a Typic Calciaquoll soil in central Iowa. Perennial plant species were then killed, corn was planted, and half of each plot was fertilized with 224 kg N ha^–1 and half was left unfertilized. Plant analyses showed that the perennial C₄ species, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman vat. gerardii), consistently removed the least N. There was little difference for soil total N, NH₄-N, or NO₃-N concentrations to a depth of 1 m among reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), switchgrass, sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Residual NO₃-N concentrations were higher to a depth of 1 m for subplots fertilized with 280 kg N ha^–1 for 6 yr than for plots fertilized with less N. Aggregates tability did not differ following reed canarygrass, switchgrass, sweet sorghum, or alfalfa. Without N during the 7th yr, corn following sweet sorghum produced the lowest yield (7.5 t ha^–1), whereas the highest yield following a nonlegnme crop was for corn after big bluestem (11.8 t ha^–1). Corn without N following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yielded 11.1 t ha^–1, while that following alfalfa yielded 13.6 t ha^–1. Fertilizer N reduced the rotation effect, but increased profile N with both perennial and annual crops. Corn following reed canarygrass, big bluestem, alfalfa, soybean, and sorghum intercropped into alfalfa had significantly higher yields (14.1, 14.2, 15.7,14.2, and 15.3 t ha^–1, respectively) than corn following corn (13.0 t ha^–1). Non-N rotation effects (those remaining despite applied N) could not be explained by residual soil N or aggregate stability measurements.

Received for publication February 1, 1997.

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