Effects of Soil Erosion on Corn Yields of Seven Illinois Soils

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to determine the impact of soil erosion on corn ( Zea mays L.) yields for an array of soils in Illinois. Eight sites were located with slopes ranging from 3 to 14%. At each site, paired moderately and severely eroded phases of a soil series were located in the same field. The included soil series were Ava (Typic Fragiudalfs), Clarence (Aquic Argiudolls), Grantsburg (Typic Fragiudalfs), Hoyleton (Aquollic Hapludalfs), Parr (Typic Argiudolls), Rozetta (Typic Hapludalfs) (at two sites), and Tama (Typic Argiudolls). Based on soil boring observations, two to four 0.0025‐acre plots were located within each of the moderately and severely eroded phases of a soil series. Corn was planted using a high level of management by either Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station personnel or by participating farmers. The corn was harvested by hand, shelled, and moisture tested. A soil pit was dug within each eroded phase of all soil series and adjacent to each set of plots to sample and measure the chemical and physical characteristics of the soils. The soils chosen represent soils developed under prairie and forest vegetation, in deep loess, or in loess overlying fine and medium textured glacial till. Some of these soils have claypans (Hoyleton soils) or fragipans (Ava and Grantsburg soils). Soils formed in loess without root restricting subsoils showed slight yield reductions (5%) with increasing degree of erosion. Greater corn yield reductions (24%) occurred when either loess derived soils with root restricting subsoils (claypans or fragipans) or soils developed in glacial till were eroded.