Author(s): A. N. Thanos Papanicolaou; C. G. Wilson; K. M. Wacha; T. B. Moorman
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Keywords: Soil respiration; Land management practices; Soil organic carbon
Abstract: Experimental plots consisting of a corn-soybean rotation are being used to investigate the variation of soil respiration amongst common agricultural land management practices. Initially the hillslope position (backslope, footslope and toeslope) was investigated to determine the location of maximum CO2 fluxes by collecting soil respiration, moisture, and temperature measurements at each position. Results showed that carbon assimilation rates and soil moisture increased downhill whereas soil temperature decreased. Based on these findings the experimental plots were constructed at the floodplains (toeslope) and have been monitored throughout the plant life cycles of corn and soybeans. Preliminary findings show that corn average assimilation rates were higher than soybeans during the first 30 days of plant growth, but were comparable after 45 days.
Year: 2011