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The objective of this study was to determine 13‐year management effects on soil properties between a corn–soybean (Zea mays–Glycine max) cropping system (CSRS) and vegetable production systems (VPS) on a soil in central Ohio. Three treatments included in the VPS were: (1) addition of wood chips, (2) permanent raised beds (PRB) with black polyethylene film (20 μm thick), and (3) bare soil surface (BSS). Additionally, (4) animal manure was applied in all CSRS and VPS treatments except for the wood chips (WCP) added plot in the VPS. Research data from the study show that relatively more soil organic carbon (SOC) stock in the 0–20 cm soil depth of the BSS treatment (100.6 Mg ha−1) was primarily due to differences in the type of soil amendments applied. For example, composted poultry manure was applied in the BSS and PRB plots, compared with input of fresh dairy manure mixed with straw being applied in the CSRS. Furthermore, soil management practices that aided in avoiding or reducing soil compaction (i.e., PRB or application of WCP in the surface) resulted in the overall improvement in soil structure and water retention, compared with that under chisel and disc ploughing done in the CSRS. The highest plant available water capacity (1.79 cm) was observed in the CSRS compared with 0.97 cm under BSS and PRB plots. These trends suggest that the type and amount of animal manure is critical to increasing SOC stocks in intensively cultivated VPS and CSRS in central Ohio, while also improving soil structure and water retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research information from a systematic planned study on the effects of vehicular passages and axle load on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and soil carbon (C) sequestration under long‐term NT farming is scanty. Therefore, the present study was conducted on an on‐going 20‐year experiment to assess the impacts of variable vehicular passages of a low axle load on soil CO2 emission and soil C sequestration from a no‐till (NT) managed corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean (Glycine max Linneo) rotation in comparison with that a soil under woodlots (soils under natural wooded plantation). The experimental treatment consisted of an empty wagon [0 Mg load for compaction (C‐0; control)] compared with 2 (C‐2) and 4 (C‐4) passages of 2.5 Mg water wagon axle load, applied to the entire plot every year during April/May for 20 consecutive years. Soil samples were obtained in November 2016 to determine the effects of various vehicular passages on C and nitrogen (N) contents and CO2 emissions. Soil CO2 fluxes were measured from November 16, 2016, to May 30, 2017, on the bi‐weekly (November to December and April to May) and monthly (January to March) basis by using high‐density polyvinyl chloride static gas chambers. The soil CO2 fluxes ranged from –1.05 to 9.03 g CO2 m−2 d−1. The lowest soil CO2 fluxes were observed in December coinciding with the minimum soil temperature. In general, daily soil CO2 fluxes were higher under C‐0 than those under other treatments. Vehicular traffic and axle load reduced the cumulative emission of CO2 by 22.6 and 29.8% under C‐2 and C‐4, respectively, compared with that under C‐0 (6.09 Mg ha−1). Soil and air temperatures had a significant positive correlation with the diurnal fluxes of soil CO2 in all the treatments except that under C‐4. Electrical conductivity, soil C and N contents and pools did not differ significantly among the treatments. Further, 2 to 4 passages of vehicles with 2.5 Mg of axle load decreased the soil CO2 emission on Crosby silt loam under NT as compared to that under the control. Therefore, continuous cultivation of row crops with moderate trafficking under NT and residue retention is recommended, and it also reduces the potential of soil CO2 emission while improving the soil organic C pools of well‐drained soils of Central Ohio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The impact of 20-yr of using amendments on soil properties of an Alfisol. • The magnitude and rate of SOC accretion were 27.5 Mg C/ha and 2.0 Mg/ha.yr. • The highest rate of build-up of C and N stocks was recorded in compost-amended plots. • Fertilizers are not sufficient to restore SOC stocks in the eroded soils. The impacts of 20-yr using amendments on the restoration of properties of an Alfisol was evaluated at the Waterman Farm, Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, Columbus, Ohio. The objectives of the experiment were to assess: (1) the effects of organic and inorganic amendments on soil aggregates, and (2) carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) budgets of soil removed (20 cm deep) and undisturbed plots after 20-yr was used to conduct the experiment. Five treatmentents were used in the rendomized block design viz; (1) permanent grass field, (2) soil artificially removed-N fertilizer added, (3) soil artificially removed-compost added, (4) an undisturbed (surface soil not removed)-N fertilizer added, and (5) an undisturbed surface soil-compost added. The experiment field was permanently under the no-till since last 20 yr. The surface soil removal plots amended with compost and permanent grass plots registered the lowest bulk density (ρ b) of 1.37 and 1.38 Mg/m3, respectively. The highest concentration of sand (30.4%) was observed in the treatment with surface soil removed and compost added, while the highest silt content (48.0%) was obtained in permanent grass plots. However, the clay content was the highest (38.2%) in fertilizer amended undisturbed treatment. The higher proportion of macroaggregates (88.0 and 87.6%) and the mean weight diameter (MWD) (4.47 and 4.5 mm) were recorded in the undisturbed compost-amended and permanent grass plots, respectively compare to fertilizer applied plots. There were no differences in soil pH among sampling depths, but higher electrical conductivity (EC) was observed at 0–10 cm depth of fertilizer application, disturbed (174.23 µS/cm) and undisturbed (166.63 µS/cm) plots than 10–20 cm. The highest C:N ratio (11.0) was observed at the of 0–10 cm depth in artificaly soil removed organic compost-amended treatments. The highest rate of build-up of stocks was 793.3 Kg/ha for C and 50.5 kg/ha for N in 0–10 cm depth of undisturbed and compost-amended plots. Furthermore, the highest magnitude of the stabilization was 2.8 Mg/ha for C and 0.7 Mg/ha for N in surface soil removed and compost-amended treatment. The magnitude and rate of SOC accretion were 27.5 Mg C/ha and 2.0 Mg/ha.yr, respectively, under undisturbed and compost-amended treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Long-term application of amendment impacts on surface soil physical properties. • Compost-amendment increased the plant available water in soil. • Amendments significantly impacts on soil hydrological properties and aggregate stability in an Alfisols. • Artificial removal of topsoil inflicts soils textural change in soil texture under long run. • Application of organic amendments impacts sign of soil formation. Soil hydrological properties and aggregate stability are strongly impacted by erosion and management practices. However, magnitudes of the erosion-induced changes in topsoil depth and the attendant alterations in soil properties are not well understood. Therefore, the present study was conducted on a long term (20 years) simulated study of topsoil depth and use of soil amendments to monitor changes in soil hydrological properties, and aggregate stability of an Alfisol at the Waterman Farm of The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. The aim of the study was to compare long-term effects of soil amendments (synthetic fertilizer and organic compost) on soil physical and hydrological properties at varying soil depth. The experimental plots, comprising of five treatments, were laid out in Randomized Block Design and replicated thrice. Treatments were: (1) topsoil removed (20 cm deep), (2) undisturbed topsoil (intact topsoil); with two soil amendments: (a) synthetic fertilizer 150 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 yr−1, (b) organic compost at 20 Mg ha−1 yr−1, and (3) a permanent grass field (as a benchmark plot). Soil properties, measured for 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depth, were: texture, aggregate stability, geometric mean diameter (GMD) of aggregates, water retention properties, hydraulic conductivity (Ks), pore size distribution, and plant available water capacity (PAWC). Aggregate stability was the highest (87.9 and 84.7%) in the permanent grass at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths, respectively. Among the cultivated treatments, compost- amended undisturbed plots (87.6 and86.9%) had the highest proportion of water stable aggregates (WSA) at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm depths, respectively. However, the GMD of aggregates was the highest 4.1 mm (0–10 cm) and 3.5 mm (10–20 cm) for the topsoil removed and compost-amended treatment. Soil texture was silty clay loam in topsoil removed treatments, clay loam in the undisturbed treatment, and loam in permanent grass treatment, probably due to artificial removal of topsoil. Plant available water content was more in the disturbed and undisturbed compost-amended plots for both the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths, respectively. The highest soil water volumetric content ranged from 0.37 to 0.25 m3 m−3 in the topsoil removed fertilizer added compared with 0.34 to 0.24 m3 m−3 in undisturbed compost added plots, respectively. However, the pore size distribution was not affected by treatments at the 0–10 cm depth. For the10-20 cm depth, an overall greater pore size distribution range of 0.04 to 0.33 m3 m−3 was observed in the permanent grass, and undisturbed compost amended treatments. Soil Ks (cm day−1) for 0–10 cm depth did not differ significantly across treatments. The data obtained enhances the understanding of the impacts of long-term use of amendments on soil water retention and aggregate stability of simulated topsoil removed and undisturbed field under no-till (NT) in corn (Zea mays)–soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) rotation in the Eastern Corn Belt of the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]