Soil quality following 12 years of corn monocultures and short rotations
Description
This data set includes soil properties collected from an experimental setup of corn (Zea mays L.) monocultures and short rotations with soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] following 12 years of agronomic management at six locations around the state of Illinois, U.S.A. Our goal was to compare soil properties under long-term use of the most common crop rotations in the state and to identify soil quality indicators. Crop rotations of continuous corn (CCC), corn-soybean (CS), and corn-corn-soybean (CCS) were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three or four replications at each of six locations, with all phases present each year. Soil sampling was conducted in the fall of 2014 at at all sites following crop harvest. This project was funded by the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (IL-NREC), Award No. 2014-02379 "Measuring Soil Quality Changes in Corn and Soybean Rotations".