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Soil & Water Management & Conservation

Surface-Soil Properties and Water Contents across Two Watersheds with Contrasting Tillage Histories

USDA-ARS, National Soil Tilth Lab., 2150 Pammel Dr. Ames, IA50011

^* Corresponding author (tomer{at}nstl.gov)

Soil properties and water contents () vary spatially, but management effects on spatial patterns are poorly understood. This study's objective was to compare surface-soil properties and in two small watersheds (30–43 ha) in Iowa's loess hills. Both watersheds were in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) from 1972 through 1995, one (CW1) under conventional tillage and the other (RW3) under ridge tillage. In 1996, CW1 was converted to no-till. Surface-soil (0–0.2 m) samples were collected along hillslope transects during 2002 and 2003, including four dates with water-content measurements by gravimetry in both watersheds. Soil bulk density (_b), organic carbon (OC), and texture were determined, along with terrain attributes (elevation, slope, surface curvature, contributing area, and wetness index). After accounting for landscape-position effects, RW3 had more OC (2.1 versus 1.7%) and smaller _b (1.16 versus 1.25 Mg m^–3) than CW1 (P < 0.001). Larger values occurred in RW3 (P < 0.002) when was >33%. Landscape position and terrain attributes better explained variation in in RW3 than CW1. Also, OC was correlated with in RW3, but not in CW1. Soil textures were similar (within 2%,) but finer in CW1 (P < 0.05). Pedotransfer functions confirmed that differences in soil properties between watersheds resulted in greater in RW3 than CW1, particularly at low soil-water potential, and that more distinct patterns of should occur in RW3. Results indicate long-term conventional tillage in CW1 affected soil properties and water-holding characteristics in ways that decreased water retention and muted spatial patterns of .

Abbreviations: A_sc, specific contributing area (m m^–2) • C_s, surface curvature (m m^–1) • CW1, conventionally tilled watershed • OC, organic carbon (%) • RW3, ridge-tilled watershed • Z, relative elevation (m) • , topographic wetness index

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