NDLI: Soil quality in a pecan–kura clover alley cropping system in the Midwestern USA

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Kremer, Robert J. Kussman, Robert D.
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	Intercropping alleys in agroforestry provides an income source until the tree crop produces harvestable yields. However, cultivation of annual crops decreases soil organic matter and increases soil erosion potential, especially on sloping landscapes. Perennial crops maintain a continuous soil cover, increase water infiltration, reduce soil erosion, and improve overall soil quality. The objective of this on-farm study was to assess the effects of a perennial legume, kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.), on soil quality in a recently established pecan (Carya illinoinensis Wangenh. C. Koch) orchard. The pecan-kura clover agroforestry practice was established on deep loess soils of the Missouri River hills landscape. These silt loams are on 2–20% slopes and can be highly erosive. Kura clover, introduced as the alley crop 5 years after pecan planting, was selected based on its perennial growth habit, nitrogen-fixing ability, winter hardiness, high forage quality, and soil conservation properties. Kura clover was seeded in 2001 and harvested for hay annually beginning 2003. Soil quality indicators of total organic C, total N, water-stable aggregates, and selected soil enzymes were determined on surface soil samples collected annually after kura clover establishment. Soil organic C and activities of soil enzymes increased compared with cultivated and grass pasture control soils by the eighth year of establishment. Water-stable aggregation improved by 50% and surface soil shear strength improved significantly (P < 0.05) in alleys compared with control sites. Results illustrate that kura clover as the alley-cropped component improved soil fertility and biological activity through increased organic matter and improved soil structure, and yielded high quality forage valuable for the cattle-feeding operation. Kura clover maintained or improved soil quality, reduced soil erosion potential, and benefited pecan growth by providing a source of soil nitrogen and improving soil structure for adequate water infiltration and aeration.
Starting Page	213
Ending Page	223
Page Count	11
File Format	PDF
ISSN	01674366
Journal	Agroforestry Systems
Volume Number	83
Issue Number	2
e-ISSN	15729680
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2011-02-04
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Aggregate stability Soil enzymes Microbial ecology Soil organic carbon Total nitrogen Cover crop Soil conservation Forestry Agriculture
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Forestry Agronomy and Crop Science

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

Soil quality in a pecan–kura clover alley cropping system in the Midwestern USA

Soil respiration and microbial biomass in a pecan — cotton alley cropping system in Southern USA

Fifteen years of no till increase soil organic matter, microbial biomass and arthropod diversity in cover crop-based arable cropping systems

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 3. Competition for nitrogen and litter decomposition dynamics

Soil nitrogen dynamics in alley cropping and no-till systems on ultisols of the Georgia Piedmont, USA

Microbial community diversity in a 21-year-old temperate alley cropping system

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 1. Production physiology

Soil carbon dynamics and residue stabilization in a Costa Rican and southern Canadian alley cropping system

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 2. Competition for water

Soil quality in a pecan–kura clover alley cropping system in the Midwestern USA

Similar Documents

Soil quality in a pecan–kura clover alley cropping system in the Midwestern USA

Soil respiration and microbial biomass in a pecan — cotton alley cropping system in Southern USA

Fifteen years of no till increase soil organic matter, microbial biomass and arthropod diversity in cover crop-based arable cropping systems

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 3. Competition for nitrogen and litter decomposition dynamics

Soil nitrogen dynamics in alley cropping and no-till systems on ultisols of the Georgia Piedmont, USA

Microbial community diversity in a 21-year-old temperate alley cropping system

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 1. Production physiology

Soil carbon dynamics and residue stabilization in a Costa Rican and southern Canadian alley cropping system

Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 2. Competition for water

Soil quality in a pecan–kura clover alley cropping system in the Midwestern USA