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Abstract

V.M. Russo, L.M. Zibilske and C.L. Webber, III. 2011. Changes occurring to minimally disturbed soil and plant covers. JEMREST 7:68-77

DOI: 10.4029/2011jemrest7no007

Minimally disturbed soil may develop a stable ecology. The project was undertaken to determine changes occurring in nutrient content and microbial activity of soil and ion content of ground cover where there was minimal disturbance of the soil. Stumps were removed and soil was lightly disked on a producer’s property. Plant cover was initially grazed and occasionally mowed during a three-year period. There were no external inputs to soil. Six sites were designated at random and soil samples down to 60 cm periodically obtained over the three-year period. Microbial activity and nutrient content of the soil and ion content of the plant cover were determined. Comparison samples from the same soil type in another location that had been under continuous cultivation were included during the second year. Air temperatures and precipitation were recorded. Changes in soil microbial activity and nutrient content over the three year period did not appear to be consistently related to air temperatures or precipitation. In the continuously cultivated soil most measures of microbial activity appeared to be higher than in the minimally disturbed soil. Some soil nutrients appeared to be higher in the continuously cultivated soil, although the nitrate-nitrogen level appeared lower. Nutrient content in covers generally decreased over time. Within the sampling period minimal soil disturbance and inputs did not consistently affect the soil environment and levels of most measures were similar at the beginning and end of sampling.