Soil degradation in Saskatchewan – a pedological perspective

Non-Peer Reviewe

Soils and vegetation within coal strip-mine spoils near Estevan, Saskatchewan

Non-Peer Reviewe

A detailed study of spring soil test nutrients along a catena sequence in a thin Black Chernozem

Non-Peer Reviewe

Productivity studies in the Weyburn map area

Non-Peer Reviewe

The effect of crop rotation history on nitrogen and sulphur mineralization in Luvisolic soils

Non-Peer Reviewe

Relationships among landform elements, soil properties, and crop yields on Blaine Lake-Hamlin Soils

Non-Peer ReviewedSoil properties are an important part of the complex framework in the crop production system. Soil properties may vary over short distances, but are related to position within the landscape. This study investigated the relationships among pH, salinity, bulk density, horizon thickness, depth to carbonates, and soil moisture according to landform position. Four catenas were studied under different crop rotations: summerfallow-canola-wheat, summerfallow-wheat-wheat, continuous cereals, and continuous cereals plus a legume. Total plant biomass and crop yields were determined on hand harvested samples from each slope position. Best yields in 1989, generally occurred in back and shoulder slopes and lowest yield in footslope areas that were flooded out by intense summer showers

Dynamics of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and extractable nitrate in long-term rotation studies at Indian Head

Non-Peer ReviewedMineralization studies in the laboratory indicate that the net turnover of nitrogen is greatly affected by crop rotation. Recently, the field applicability of such incubation - intermittent leaching experiments has been questioned. Therefore, field sampling was undertaken during the summer of 1988 to determine the influence of rotation history on microbial biomass C and N, and levels of extractable NO3-N. Four long term rotation plots (Ag. Canada, Indian Head) were sampled in the fallow phase. These rotations consisted of: (1) Fallow-Wheat-Wheat, (2) Fallow-Wheat- Wheat (fertilized, straw retained), (3) Fallow-Wheat-Wheat (fertilized, straw removed), and (4) Fallow-Wheat-Wheat-Hay-Hay-Hay. Biomass C and N, as measured by a chloroform-direct extraction technique, was found to be significantly higher in the soils from the hay rotation. The proportion of organic C present as biomass was, on average, 29 % higher than in the three year rotations without hay. Similarly, nitrate levels were found to be significantly affected by rotation history and correlate strongly with the size of the microbial biomass. The prediction of microbial biomass based on carbon added as crop residue was poor since the intrinsic assumption that all carbon is equally available for decomposition does not hold for all residues. However, the levels of biomass C and N were closely related to the N content of the residues returned. This is to be expected since the N-rich "metabolic" fraction is readily decomposed and incorporated into the microbial biomass. These relationships are clearly illustrated using a conceptual model of N turnover

Productivity studies on Solonetzic soils in the Weyburn area – a progress report

Non-Peer Reviewe

Short term effect of breaking and cultivation on properties of an Oxbow landscape

Non-Peer ReviewedChanges in soil quality over the first six years of cultivation were studied for an Oxbow landscape dominated by Black Chernozems. Bulk density at shoulder, footslope, and level landforms was found to increase by 15-20 % from 1985 to 1988 and by 3-4 % from 1988 to 1991. Similarly, organic carbon concentration declined by 17-37 % and 0-10 %, respectively, over the same periods. These results demonstrate that cultivation of virgin land has an almost immediate impact on soil quality. 137Cesium measurements indicated that appreciable soil erosion has not occurred in this landscape since cultivation began

Rapid assessment of soil salinity

Non-Peer Reviewe