1. Cropping systems with perennial vegetation and livestock integration promote soil health
- Author
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Abigail J. Augarten, Lindsay Chamberlain Malone, Gregory S. Richardson, Randall D. Jackson, Michel A. Wattiaux, Shawn P. Conley, Amber M. Radatz, Eric T. Cooley, and Matthew D. Ruark
- Subjects
Agriculture ,Environmental sciences ,GE1-350 - Abstract
Abstract Soil health can differ across cropping systems because of variation in edaphic and management factors. We evaluated how biological indicators of soil health (soil organic matter [SOM], permanganate oxidizable carbon [POXC], mineralizable carbon [MinC], autoclaved‐citrate‐extractable [ACE] protein, and potentially mineralizable nitrogen [PMN]) compared across four common Wisconsin cropping systems: grazed cool‐season pastures, forage‐based rotations that included perennial legumes or grasses, annual rotations receiving manure, and annual rotations receiving synthetic fertilizers. Biological indicators of soil health were up to 195% greater in pastures than other cropping systems. MinC, POXC and PMN were 10%–90% greater in forage‐based rotations than annual cropping systems, but only MinC and POXC were greater in annual systems with manure compared to those without manure by 35% and 7%, respectively. Perennial vegetation and livestock integration offer the greatest potential to increase biological indicators of soil health in agricultural lands.
- Published
- 2023
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