Data from: Soil health benefits of compost persist two decades after single application to winter wheat

<p dir="ltr">Long-term published dataset containing observations on soil health and yield following a one-time compost application in a dryland wheat fallow system. The effectiveness of frequent compost application in improving soil health is well-documented. Less is known on the long-term effects of infrequent compost application to semiarid soils. Compost made of dairy manure and straw bedding was applied once in a dryland organic hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Thell.)–fallow system at 50 megagrams per hectare (Mg ha−1) dry weight in 1994 in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Twenty-eight years later, yields in composted plots (1.4 Mg ha−1) remained higher (p < 0.1) than in control plots (0.79 Mg ha−1). Plant-available phosphorous, acid phosphatase activity (ACP), and total nitrogen were higher in composted plots by 143%, 37%, and 29%. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and dehydrogenase enzyme activity were greater by 25% and 20% with compost compared to the control, as were aggregate stability determined using SLAKES method, autoclave-extractable protein, and carbon dioxide over 96 hours (CO2-96 h) by 143%, 22%, and 16%. Soil extractable K and Zn also increased with compost application. The interaction of ACP and estimated evapotranspiration (ET) emerged as a pivotal factor in explaining the variation in yield. These findings suggest that growers may see some yield improvements from periodic compost applications to dryland organic winter wheat–fallow systems. This strategy could help rebuild SOC and partially counter the challenges of low and variable precipitation.</p>