Soil erosion and organic matter for central Great Plains cropping systems under residue removal

This study examined average annual changes in soil erosion from rainfall and wind forces, and trends in soil organic carbon (SOC).

The diversity of geo-climatic land bases and potential feedstocks within the United States Central Great Plains (CGP) requires sustainable production that provides optimal resource utilization while maintaining or enhancing localized soil and environmental quality as much as possible. This study examined average annual changes in soil erosion from rainfall and wind forces and trends in soil organic carbon (SOC) as a function of commodity and/or bioenergy-based crop rotations, yield variations, and different field management practices, including residue removal across all land capability class (LCC) I-VIII soils in select areas of the CGP. Soil erosion and SOC (proxied by a soil conditioning index, or SCI) were analyzed on individual soil map unit components using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation, Version 2 (RUSLE2) and Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) models.

• Resource Title: Data Field Definitions READ ME.

  File Name: definitions.csv




• Resource Title: Fig. 1. USDA-NRCS Crop Management Zones (CMZs) used in this study.

  File Name: Figure 1 CMZ Map expl.jpg

  Resource Description:

  The six CMZ's used in this study are indicated on a map of the lower 48 United States with USDA-NRCS Crop Management Zones indicated by number. Note that CMZs 15 and 15.1 were combined into one crop management zone (15), as their crops and rotations were similar.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 5 2011 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-5-2011-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 5 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 5 2030 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-5-2030-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 5 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 15 2011 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-15-2011-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 15 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 15 2030 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-15-2030-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 15 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 19 2030 Yields.

  File Name: CMZ 19 2030 Yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 19 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 19 2011 Yields.

  File Name: CMZ 19 2011 Yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 19 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 24 2011 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-24-2011-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 24 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 24 2030 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-24-2030-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 24 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 40 2011 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-40-2011-yields_0.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 40 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 40 2030 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-40-2030-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 40 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 48 2011 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-48-2011-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 48 2011, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.




• Resource Title: Crop Management Zone 48 2030 Yields.

  File Name: cmz-48-2030-yields.csv

  Resource Description:

  Data for simulation by yield for CMZ 48 2030, using the RUSLE2 and WEPS simulation models to explore changes in soil erosion (water and wind) and SOC for select commodity and bioenergy-based rotations pertinent to the CGP, which are subject to both reduced tillage and no-till practices under residue removal and no residue removal.