Hydro-physical soil properties as influenced by short and long-term integrated crop–livestock agroecosystems

Abstract

Integration of cover crops and livestock (ICLS) in an existing corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cropping system can be an effective strategy to improve soil physical and hydrological properties. Three on-farm long-term (≥30 yr) sites (Sites 1, 2 and 3) and one short-term (3 yr) experimental site (Site 4) with a randomized block design in eastern South Dakota were selected to evaluate the impacts of ICLS on soil physical and hydrological properties. At Sites 1, 2, and 3, the following long-term management systems were compared: ICLS (corn/grazing–soybean/grazing–cover crop/grazing), control (CNT, corn–soybean with no cover crop and no grazing), and a grazed pasture (GP). At Site 4, the treatments included ICLS (corn/grazing–soybean/grazing–oat [Avena sativa L.]–cover crop/grazing], cover crop (corn–soybean–oat–cover crop with no grazing), CNT (corn–soybean–oat without cover crop and grazing), and GP. Data showed that soil organic carbon (SOC) was higher by 20–26% and bulk density was lower by 18–37% in long-term ICLS compared with CNT. Long-term ICLS also improved soil water retention, macroporosity, infiltration rate, and total porosity compared with the CNT. However, these properties were not affected by short-term ICLS at Site 4. The GP had the lower soil bulk density and higher SOC and infiltration rate compared with ICLS and the CNT except at Site 4. This study showed that long-term integration of cover crops and livestock grazing under ICLS can be beneficial in enhancing soil physical and hydrological properties. However, whether such integration improves other soil quality parameters and crop yield requires further investigation.