Sustainable and Resilient Cropping Practices to Mitigate Wind Erosion and Enhance Soil Health

Abstract

In the Texas High Plains (THP) region, implementation of sustainable agricultural management systems improves aggregate stability, increases soil water retention, protects soil organic carbon, and mitigates topsoil losses due to wind erosion. This study sought to determine the effects of agricultural management practices on topsoil losses and remaining soil health through the quantification and analysis of dust collected in four locations across the THP (Martin County, Dawson County, Terry County, and Lubbock County, TX). Each location is split into paired sites based on current management practice (combinations of reduced tillage, cover cropping, and crop rotations) and designated as conservation or conventional with Modified Wilson and Cooke (MWAC) sediment samplers. Additionally, monthly soil samples and moisture readings were taken using a CPN 503 lab-calibrated neutron probe (InstroTek Inc., Raleigh, NC, USA). Annual cores were taken following one year of sampling. Particle size distribution was run on samples from April 2023 and April 2024 in Martin and Terry Counties. In Terry County, TX, the mean particle diameters were 2.295 µm and 2.021 µm in April 2023 and April 2024, respectively. The mean particle diameters in Martin County, TX for April 2023 and April 2024 were 2.313 µm and 2.033 µm, respectively. In Martin, Dawson, and Terry Counties, TX, there were statistical differences in the weight of dust collected between the conservation and conventional practices, both monthly and total. In Martin County, TX, there was a decrease of 95.6% in topsoil eroded by wind due to the implementation of conservation management systems. Dawson County, TX, conservation practices resulted in a decrease of 82.2% in dust collected compared to the conventionally cropped cotton. Similarly, Terry County, TX, suggested an 85.8% decrease in dust in the CRP land compared to more conventionally managed soil. There were not any notable decreases at the Lubbock County, TX location. Dawson, Terry, and Lubbock Counties, TX, had weak to moderate negative correlations between MWD and dust collected in the conventional practices. Our study confirmed the conservation sites in the annual core samples typically maintained a lower pH, greater MWD, and greater total N and P concentrations in all locations when compared monthly. Following a full year of sampling, overall practice comparisons were conducted, resulting in improved aggregation in Martin County and Dawson County, TX within the sustainably managed sites, compared to their paired locations, observing 0.921 mm as opposed to 0.648 mm in Martin County, TX (p < 0.0001) and 0.709 mm as opposed to 0.650 mm in Dawson County, TX (p= 0.045). Similarly, as the study was conducted across a 13-month period, April 2023 and April 2024 collections were evaluated, finding that as the conservation practices were implemented, locations generally observed improved MWD, greater POX-C, and lower erosion rates within the month. Additionally, annual core samples concluded the sustainable systems had a lower bulk density than their counterpart land practice, as well as increased organic C in Martin County and Terry County, TX. Within the 0-15 cm depth of Terry County, TX organic C increased from 5.3 g kg- to 6.7 g kg- (p= 0.045) between the conventional practice to the CRP managed land. This study emphasizes the importance of conservation agriculture practices in the reduction of wind erosion and further demonstrates the need for research concerning dust mitigation through agroecosystem management changes