Land Use and Erosional Effects on Two Ohio Alfisols:

Abstract

An on-farm study was conducted to evaluate the effects of landuse and past erosion on replicated slightly (S), moderately (M), and severely (SV) eroded phases of two Typic Hapludalfs (Miamian and Strawn soil series) and adjacent depositional (DP) areas in Central Ohio for a two year period. Effects on corn (Zea maw) and soybean (Clycine max) yields were evaluated on 3 sites: (A) Strawn soil series on 2 to 6% slope, (B) Strawn soil series on 2 to 7% slope, and (C) Miamian soil series on 2 to 6% slope. Mean corn grain yield in 1992 on site A was 10.1 Mg/ha for SI 11 .O Mg/ha for M, 8.5 Mg/ha for SV, and 7.2 Mg/ha for DP phase. In comparison, mean corn grain yield for site B was 15.0 Mg/ha for S, 14.3 Mg/ha for M, 14.7 Mg/ha for SV, and 15.8 M/ha for the DP. Corn grain yield for 1993 was 7.0 Mg/ha for S, 6.6 M/ha for M, 5.6 Mg/ha for SV and 4.9 Mg/ha for the DP phase on site A, and 7.7 Mg/ha for S, 8.9 Mg/ha for M, 4.8 Mg/ha for SV, and 9.1 Mg/ha for the DP phase on site B. Highest soybean grain and straw yields for site A in 1993 were obtained for the DP phase. In comparison with the S phase, soybean grain yield was reduced by 12.1% for M and 27.3% for SV eroded phase, and increased by 64.7% for the DP phase. Relative soybean grain yield was 100.0 for S, 97.1% for M, 105.9 for SV and 164.7 for DP phases for site B in 1993 compared with 100.0 for S, 90.0 for M, 52.5 for SV and 85.0 for DP phase for site C in 1992. In comparison with S, yield reductions on SV phases of Miamian soils ranged from 15 to 47% for corn and 10 to 48% for soybeans. On Strawn soils yield reductions ranged from 6 to 33% for corn and 36 to 41% for soybeans.